Raisin Vocabulary

Question 1

undistinguished

Answer 1

(adj) common; nothing special

Question 2

pretense

Answer 2

(n) pretending or feigning; make-believe; a false show of something

Question 3

exasperated

Answer 3

(adj) irritated; provoked; irked

Question 4

viciously

Answer 4

(adv) with violence or fury

Question 5

sullen

Answer 5

(adj) showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve

Question 6

vindicated

Answer 6

(v) cleared of accusation, blame, or doubt (30) “The boy finally turns around and rolls his eyes at her, knowing the mood has changed and he is vindicated; he does not, however, move toward her yet.” (30).

Question 7

proposition

Answer 7

(n) a suggested plan

Question 8

vengeance

Answer 8

(n) revenge

Question 9

tentatively

Answer 9

(adv) uncertainly

Question 10

furtively

Answer 10

(adv) stealthily; in a way that hides motive

Question 11

futile

Answer 11

(adj) useless

Question 12

tyrant

Answer 12

(n) dictator; harsh ruler

Question 13

forlornly

Answer 13

(adv) pitifully; desperately; hopelessly

Question 14

mutilated

Answer 14

(adj) maimed; damaged

Question 15

assimilationism

Answer 15

(n) belief that minority cultures should be absorbed into a dominant culture (63) “ But what does it matter? Assimilationism is so popular in your country.” (63).

Question 16

insinuatingly

Answer 16

(adv) with more meaning than is spoken; implied (66) “(Insinuatingly, to her daughter) Yes, I guess I see why we done commence to get so interested in Africa ‘round here. Missionaries my aunt Jenny!” (66).

Question 17

haphazardly

Answer 17

(adv) carelessly

Question 18

arrogant

Answer 18

(adj) proud; haughty

Question 19

eccentric

Answer 19

(adj) deviating from the norm; strange

Question 20

oppressive

Answer 20

(adj) tyrannical

Question 21

cliché

Answer 21

(n) trite or overused expression or idea

Question 22

plaintively

Answer 22

(adv) sorrowfully; pathetically (86) “RUTH (Plaintively) Walter Lee why don’t we just try to talk about it …” (86).

Question 23

menacingly

Answer 23

(adv) threateningly

Question 24

exuberant

Answer 24

(adj) marked by unrestrained enthusiasm

Question 25

presumably

Answer 25

(adv) probably; reasonably supposed

Question 26

rebuff

Answer 26

(n) blunt refusal (96) “(He starts to kiss her, she rebuffs him again and he jumps up)” (96).

Question 27

revelation

Answer 27

(n) new information

Question 28

amiably

Answer 28

(adv) good-naturedly

Question 29

ludicrous

Answer 29

(adj) ridiculous

Question 30

ominous

Answer 30

(adj) menacing; threatening

Question 31

plunder

Answer 31

(v) to rob; to loot

Question 32

wrought

Answer 32

(v) shaped; made (137) “Ah so this is what the New World hath finally wrought . . .” (137).

Question 33

monologue

Answer 33

(n) long speech by one person

Question 34

eccentricity

Answer 34

(n) quality of being strange or unusual in behavior

Question 35

epitaph

Answer 35

(n) inscription on a tombstone (145) “You done wrote his epitaph too like the rest of the world? ” (145).

Question 36

amid

Answer 36

(adv) among; in the midst of