Book Summary For Tom Sawyer

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A vocabulary word list with definitions for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is arranged from 35 chapters:

• Tom Sawyer: Chapter 1 – 14 words:
  # spectacles–eyeglasses
  # conscience–the ability to recognize right from wrong
  # vanity–extreme pride in one’s ability, possessions, or appearance
  # vexed–annoyed or bothered by something
  # sagacity–using wisdom or good judgment
  # lapels–the front part of a garment (usually a coat) which is a continuation of the collar
  # diligence–constant effort used to accomplish a task
  # roundabout–not going about something in a direct manner
  # ambuscade–a trap; a surprise attack
  # guile–trickery; deceit; duplicity; lying
  # bona fide–performed in good faith; genuine; authentic
  # subtle–not blatant or obvious
  # deduce–to derive a conclusion by reasoning
  # diffident–lacking confidence in oneself; unsure
• Chapter 2 – 19 words:
  # beguiled–deceived; deluded; tricked
  # reluctance–unwillingness
  # alacrity–cheerfulness; willingness; eager
  # delectable–greatly pleasing; delightful; enjoyable
  # reposeful–calm; peaceful
  # melancholy–sadness; depression; gloominess
  # mulatto–persons of mixed parentage
  # taw–a large fancy marble for shooting; the line from which a player shoots in marbles
  # inspiration–a sudden bright idea or thought
  # tranquility–peacefulness
  # ridicule–to make fun of something or someone
  # anticipation–eagerly awaiting an event or occasion
  # melodious–nice and pleasant to hear
  # starboard–the right hand side of a ship as one faces forward
  # ponderously–ungracefully; laboriously
  # jeer–mock; taunt; abuse openly
  # dilapidated–fallen into a state of disrepair; broken-down; in need of repair
  # obliged–obligated; indebted to; mandatory
  # wended–proceeded; went along; traveled
• Chapter 3 – 20 words:
  # balmy–mild and pleasant
  # intrepid–resolutely courageous, fearless, bold
  # diluted–watered down, made weak
  # virtuous–possessing the qualities of moral excellence
  # clods–lumps of clay or earth
  # eminence–a position of great distinction or superiority
  # evanescence–vanishing or likely to vanish; fleeting
  # furtive–sneaky, sly, stealthy
  # grotesque–distorted; strange; bizarre
  # pliant–easily bent; flexible; easily persuaded
  # exultation–joy, triumph, great happiness
  # perplexed–puzzled, confused
  # audacious–fearlessly daring, bold, insolent
  # morosely–gloomy, depressed, sullen, melancholy
  # beseeching–plead, beg, request earnestly
  # desolate–deserted, uninhabited; gloomy, dreary, dismal
  # dismal–gloomy, depressing, dreary
  # felicity–great happiness, bliss
  # blighted–declined, decayed, ruined, destroyed
  # martyr–one who sacrifices something very important in order to stand up for ones beliefs or principles
• Chapter 4 – 18 words:
  # tranquil –very calm, quiet; free from disturbance
  # benediction–a blessing given at the end of a religious service
  # prospective–looked forward to as likely or promised; probable; expected
  # convulsion–a violent shaking
  # grandeur–the quality of being grand; splendor; magnificent
  # contrived–planned; devised
  # scarify–to mark, damage or scar
  # diligently–showing painstaking effort; industriously; carefully
  # disconcerted–upset; perturbed
  # tallow–hard fat rendered from sheep or cattle used to make soap, candles, and lubricants
  # edifice–a large, impressive building or structure
  # eclat–a brilliant success; fame, glory; applause, approval
  # mien–way of acting or looking; demeanor; bearing
  # prodigious–very great; huge; vast
  # awe–a feeling of wonder or reverence; in respect of
  # prodigy–a person endowed with amazing talent, brilliance, etc.
  # dupe–a person easily deceived or tricked
  # wily–using tricks to deceive; crafty; cunning
• Chapter 5 – 4 words:
  # venerable–worthy of respect
  # laggard–slow; backward; lagging; someone who loiters
  # predestined–destiny; fate; decided beforehand
  # pathos–a quality that evokes sadness or pity
• Chapter 6 – 10 words:
  # odious–very displeasing; hateful; offensive
  # sash–frame for the glass of a window; part of a window that can be moved to open or close a window
  # mortified–wound the feelings of; make to feel ashamed ; humiliate
  # expectorate–to cough up and spit out
  # pariah–any person or animal generally despised; an outcast
  # animosity–hostile feelings; dislike
  # caricature–imitation of something by ridiculous exaggeration
  # derrick–a machine with a long arm used to lift something
  # portentous–indicating evil to come; ominous; threatening
  # ostentation–showing off; display intended to impress others
• Chapter 7 – 4 words:
  # wane–lose size; gradually become smaller
  # bliss–great happiness or delight; joy; ecstasy
  # andiron–a pair of metal supports for wood in a fireplace; firedog
  # upbraid–find fault with; blame; reprove
• Chapter 8 – 5 words:
  # frivolity–silly behavior
  # ecstasy–condition of very great joy
  # cogitating–consider with care; pondering; thinking about deeply
  # incantations–set of words spoken as a magic charm or to cast a magic spell
  # accouterments–clothes, outfit; a soldier\’s gear
• Chapter 9 – 12 words:
  # perceptible–noticeable
  # ingenuity–cleverness
  # ghastly–horrible; terrifying
  # solemnity/solemn–very serious; sacred
  # ensconced–settled securely
  # oppressive–causing worry or creating a burden
  # innumerable–too many to be counted
  # monotonous–lacking variety
  # pallid–pale; lacking color
  # vagrant–roaming from one place to another without a job
  # ruffian–a lawless, rowdy person
  # stolid–dull; slow-witted
• Chapter 10 – 7 words:
  # dire–dreadful or terrible
  # sublimity–lofty excellence; grandeur; majesty
  # fetters–chains or ropes used to prevent escape
  # lugubrious–mournful; dejected
  # facility–ease in doing something
  # flogged–beaten, whipped
  # colossal–huge; great in scope
• Chapter 11 – 11 words:
  # infernal–abominable
  # impudence–marked by rude boldness or disrespect
  # haggard–worn out or exhausted as from hunger or fatigue
  # serene–calm, peaceful
  # miscreant–having very bad morals; wicked
  # conscience–ability to recognize right from wrong
  # blanched–turned pale as if by fear or surprise
  # inquests–legal investigations into the cause of death
  # vogue–leading style or fashion; popularity
  # gory–covered by or stained with blood
  # grisly–ghastly or gruesome
• Chapter 12 – 5 words:
  # phrenological–the study or theory that the conformation of the human head indicates the degree of intelligence and character
  # clandestinely–done in secret
  # gravity–seriousness
  # consternation–great dismay; paralyzing terror
  # avariciously–greedily; greatly desiring money
• Chapter 13 – 10 words:
  # forsaken–deserted; abandoned
  # succumb–give way, yield; die
  # countersign–a sign or signal used in reply; a password given in answer to the challenge of a sentinel
  # hilt–the handle of a sword, dagger or tool
  # bar (sand bar)–ridge of sand formed by the action of the tides or current
  # foliage–leaves of a plant
  # festooning–a string or chain of flowers, leaves or ribbons hanging in a curve between two points
  # peril–chance of harm or loss; exposure to danger
  # waif–person without a home or friends, especially a neglected child
  # purloined–stolen
• Chapter 14 – 13 words:
  # pervading–spreading throughout
  # obtruded–put forward unwanted and unasked; forced upon
  # gaudy–to bright, cheap and showy to be considered in good taste
  # credulous–too ready to believe; easily deceived
  # conflagration–great and destructive fire
  # limpid–clear or transparent
  # ravenous–very hungry; greedy; rapacious
  # regalia–the emblems or decorations of any society; clothes, especially fine clothing
  # channel–the deeper part of a waterway
  # sumptuous–lavish and costly; magnificent; rich
  # quicksilver–mercury; a heavy silver, metallic element which is liquid at normal temperatures
  # frolic–a merry prank; play; have fun
  # derision–scornful laughter; ridicule
• Chapter 15 – 5 words:
  # shoal–a sand bar which makes the water shallow
  # skiff–a small, light rowboat
  # yaw–turn from a straight course; go unsteadily
  # conjectured–guessed without sufficient evidence
  # bereaved–left desolate and alone; deprived of; robbed of
• Chapter 16 – 9 words:
  # mutinous–rebellious; not controllable; unruly
  # sullen–silent because of bad humor or anger
  # plausible–appearing true, reasonable or fair
  # stupendous–amazing; marvelous; immense
  # retching–vomiting
  # peal–a loud, long sound
  # unflagging–not weakening or failing
  # eloquent–very expressive; speech that has grace and force
  # Six Nations–the federation of Iroquois Indian tribes
• Chapter 17 – 5 words:
  # loitered–lingered idly
  # vestibule–passage or hall between the outer door and the inside of a building
  # anguished–suffering very great pain or grief; great emotional distress
  # abashed–embarrassed and confused; uneasy and somewhat ashamed
  # soliloquized–talked to oneself
• Chapter 18 – 6 words:
  # soliloquized–talked to oneself
  # audible–loud enough to be heard
  # menagerie–a collection or assortment of animals for exhibition
  # notoriety–being famous for something bad; ill fame
  # vindictive–bearing a grudge; wanting revenge
  # reconciliation–settlement or arrangement of a disagreement or difference
• Chapter 19 – 1 word:
  # ingenious–clever, skillful, good at inventing
• Chapter 20 – 6 words:
  # scornful–showing contempt, mocking
  # urchin–poor ragged child
  # anatomy–the science studying the structure of animals and plants
  # lethargy–drowsy dullness; lack of energy; sluggish inactivity
  # smote (smite)–strike hard
  # vengeance–revenge; punishment in return for a wrong
• Chapter 21 – 10 words:
  # gilded–covered with a thin layer of gold; made to be bright and shiny
  # dome–a rounded top of something; like a rounded roof
  # ferule–stick or ruler for punishing children by striking them on the hand
  # dominie–schoolmaster; clergyman
  # spasmodic–occurring very irregularly
  # gesticulation–lively or excited gestures; wild waving of the hands
  # edification–moral improvement or benefit
  # frivolous–silly; lacking seriousness; senseless
  # geniality–the quality of being friendly and cheerful
  # garret–space in a house just below a sloping roof
• Chapter 22 – 9 words:
  # temperance–exhibiting self-control; being moderate in habits; speech; actions, etc.
  # abstain–do without something; refrain
  # convalescent–recovering health and strength after an illness
  # minstrel–singer or musician; a white man in make-up appearing as a black man who entertains by song and dance
  # mesmerizer–hypnotist
  # measles–an infectious disease characterized by a bad cold, fever, and a breaking out of red spots on the skin
  # tract–book or pamphlet on a religious topic
  # forbearance–patience; control; not acting out against someone when you have the right to
  # incongruous–not appropriate; out of place
• Chapter 23 – 5 words:
  # verdict–the result of a trial = guilty or innocent
  # haggard–having a wild or wasted look as if from lack of sleep
  # stolid–having or showing little or no emotion or sympathy
  # perplexity–being confused, not understanding
  # delirium–a temporary state of mental excitement, confusion, or insanity
• Chapter 24(1) + 25(3) + 26(2) – 6 words:
  # corpse–a dead body
  # cipher–figure out; compute mathematically
  # hieroglyphics–a form of picture writing used by the ancient Egyptians
  # bishop–a high-ranking member of the church (usually Catholic or Anglican)
  # deaf–unable to hear
  # dumb–unable to speak
  # attrition–the process of wearing away or breaking down
  # tavern–a saloon, bar, or establishment selling drinks and food; an inn
• Chapter 28(1) + 29(3) + 30(1) + 31(2) – 7 words:
  # slaughterhouse–a place where animals are processed for food
  # anticipation–to eagerly await something, some event, or someone
  # labyrinth–a maze; a winding, twisting path
  # stile–a step or set of steps used to climb over a low wall
  # embellishment–added (unnecessary) detail
  # stalagmites–limestone deposits which are formed from the ground upwards
  # stalactites–limestone deposits which are formed from the ceiling downwards
• Chapter 32(1) + 33(3) + 34(2) + 35(1) – 7 words:
  # famished–extremely hungry
  # contrived–think up, devise; make up
  # sumac–a type of bush in the cashew family (some of which are poisonous)
  # mystic–mysterious; unexplainable
  # laudations–praises; honors
  # magnanimous–noble or generous
  # chronicle–a written account or retelling of an event or happening

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  Links to vocabulary words lists and puzzles for other Mark Twain novels:

  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

  The Prince and the Pauper

  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – you are here.

  Thank you, again, Louanne Smith, 8th grade English Teacher/English Dept Chair at New Heights Middle School in Jefferson, SC (Chesterfield County School District), for being the teacher contributor at www.myVocabulary.com of a vocabulary word list with definitions for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer vocabulary word list and specific pages recently submitted by an 8th grade student from Crone Middle School:
  page 229- oppressive, page 235- famished, page 238- tedious, page 238- obstruction, page 247- warily, page 251- intolerable, page 277- drawn
  www.MyVocabulary.com says thank you for the additional word list for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer!