Vocabulary

Repugnance (n): the state of being distasteful, objectionable, or

“All their repugnance was contained in the neat balance of triangles—a balance that soothed him, transferred some of its equilibrium on him.” (8)

Ex: The smell of the rotten food was filled with repugnance.

Abate (v): to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish

“ By the time the police had driven up, Shadrack was suffering from a blinding headache, which was not abated by the comfort he felt when the policemen pulled his hand away from what he thought a permenent entanglement of his shoelaces.”(13)

Ex: When they saw that the test was easy, their anxiety abated.

 Unequivocal (adj): clear; having only one possible meaning or interpretation

“A black so definite, so unequivocal, it astonished him.” (13)

Ex: There was no way to misunderstand the no parking sign; it was unequivocal

 

 Quell (v): to suppress; put an end to

“If this tall, proud woman…., who could quell a roustabout with one look, if she were really custard then there was a chance Nel was too.”(22)

Ex: She did her best to quell her sister’s fear on the rollercoaster.

Guile (noun but used as an adjective): insidious, cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception

“Her flirting was sweet, low, and guileless.” (42)

Ex: It required all of her guile to sneak out of the house that night.

Fastidious (adj): excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please

“She liked the last place lease, not because Sula slept in the room with her but because of her love mate’s tendency to fall asleep afterwards, and Hannah was fastidious about whom she slept with.” (43)

Ex: She was very fastidious about her desk; everything had to go in a specific place.

Vitriol (n): speech, writing, etc, displaying rancour, vituperation, or bitterness

“She was an unquestionably kind and generous woman and that…made them defend her and protect her from any vitriol that newcomers or their wives might spill. (45)

Ex: When the rumor came out about her, her classmates treated her with vitriol.

Insouciant (adj): free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree

“…and Nel’s grimy intractable children looked like three wild things happily insouciant in the May shine.”(96)

Ex: The way the panda slept made him look insouciant and stress free

Contrive (verb, but used as an adjective in the story):

“Their evidence against Sula was contrived, but their accusations about her were not.” (118)

Ex: The lie he told his parents was obviously contrived.

Pariah (n): any person or animal that is generally despised or avoided

“She was pariah, then, and she knew it.  Knew that they despised her…” (122)

Ex: He was a pariah; no one would even look at her.