The Good Master Vocabulary Words

Front 1

placidly

Back 1

- adverb

Pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed.

Horses were grazing placidly in the green pasture. - The Good Master, page 20

Front 2

imp

Back 2

- noun

A mischievous child. A little devil or demon.

"Here, take this---this imp, this unspeakable little devil--take her and welcome." - The Good Master, page 22

Front 3

laconic

Back 3

- adjective

Using few words; expressing much in few words; concise.

"Come down, my lamb, he won't hurt you." Mother held out her arms to Kate.

"Can't," was the laconic answer. - The Good Master, page 36

Front 4

pommel

Back 4

- noun

The protuberant part at the front and top of a saddle.

"Stand at the left side of the horse. Put your left hand hand on the pommel, your right hand on the stirrup to steady it.." - The Good Master, page 45

Front 5

solicitous

Back 5

- adjective

Anxious or concerned; eager.

"M-m-m. That's off, but your forehead is smudged, too. The smoke from the candle, I imagine," said a very sweet and solicitous Kate. - The Good Master, page 55

Front 6

weatherbeaten

Back 6

- adjective

Tanned, hardened, or otherwise affected by exposure to weather.

His weatherbeaten, sunburned face shone with boyish eagerness. - The Good Master, page 74

Front 7

furrows

Back 7

- noun

A narrow groove made in the ground, especially by a plow.

Kate watched her make furrows with a little stick and scatter something like sand into them. - The Good Master, page 84

Front 8

conscientious
 

Back 8

- adjective

Meticulous; careful; painstaking; particular.

She was very consientious about watering her garden. - The Good Master, page 85

Front 9

swarthy

Back 9

- adjective

Of a dark color, complexion, or cast.

Young men jumped up, one after the other--they threw money to the swarthy leader, ordering songs for their friends, best girls, mothers. - The Good Master, page 109

Front 10

antics

Back 10

- noun

An attention-drawing often wildly playful or funny act or action.

The antics of the clowns set him howling with laughter. - The Good Master, page 114

Front 11

gawky

Back 11

- adjective

Awkward, ungainly, or clumsy.

The yellow ducklings and fuzzy, lemon-colored chickens had lost their fluffy down. Now they were gawky, awkward little creatures. - The Good Master, page 119

Front 12

rivulets

Back 12

- noun

A small stream; streamlet; brook.

As they walked, their boots made clucking little noises, leaving rivulets of warer on the floor. - The Good Master, page 128

Front 13

scythe

Back 13

- noun

An agricultural implement consisting of a long, curving blade fastened at an angle to a handle, for cutting grass, grain, etc., by hand.

The harvesters, with their many-colored kercheifs, shawls, skirts, swaying to the rhythym of the scythe, looked like giant poppies and cornflowers on the yellow fields. - The Good Master, page 137

Front 14

urchin

Back 14

- noun

Any small boy or youngster.

When they reached the camp, a swarm of dirty little urchins surrounded them. - The Good Master, page 142

Front 15

namby-pamby

Back 15

- adjective

Without firm methods or policy; weak or indecisive.

"...And how long do you think you could stay in a namby-pamby land where you can't fight and you can't argue?" - The Good Master, page 167

Front 16

painstakingly

Back 16

- adverb

Expending or showing diligent, steady care and effort; careful.

Leisurely, carefully, painstakingly, they worked until each piece fitted the others perfectly. - The Good Master, page 187

Front 17

harrowing

Back 17

- adjective

Extremely disturbing or distressing.

That was Kate's final word, and no amount of Janci's harrowing tales made any impression on her. - The Good Master, page 141

Front 18

dejectedly

Back 18

- adverb

Depressed or disheartened.

People came out after the services, just to see the same unbroken, bluish white blazing sky above--and went home dejectedly. - The Good Master, page 121

Front 19

reproachful

Back 19

- adjective

An expression of rebuke or disapproval.

Mali, the mottled cow, looked at him with reproachful eyes. - The Good Master, page 17

Front 20

wistfully

Back 20

- adverb

Full of yearning or desire tinged with sadness or melancholy.

"But I wish I could give you something in return," she said wistfully. - The Good Master, page 74