The Ransom of the Red Chief Vocabulary

8/8/2019 The Ransom of the Red Chief Vocabulary

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The Ransom of the Red Chief


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Apparitionan unusual or unexpected sight, a ghost

During a moment of temporarymental apparition, this kidnapping

idea struck us.


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undeleterioushealthy; full of well-being

There was a town down there calledSummit. It contained inhabitants ofas undeleterious and self-satisfied a

class of peasantry as ever clusteredaround a Maypole.


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philoprogenitivenessParents love for their children

Philoprogenitiveness, says we, isstrong in semi-rural communities like

Summit.


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diatribea bitter or angry attack in speech or

writing

We knew that Summit couldn't get

after us with anything stronger than adiatribe or two in the WeeklyFarmers' Budget. So, it looked good.


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fraudulent

acting with deceit (lies)

Bill and me had a joint capital ofabout six hundred dollars, and we

needed just two thousand dollarsmore to pull off a fraudulent town-lot scheme in Western Illinois.


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dassentDare not

You dassentcatch toads unless witha string.


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somnolentsleepy; drowsy

sylvan : characteristic of woods and

forests

There was a sylvan attitude of

somnolent sleepiness pervading thatsection of the town.


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peremptoryCommanding, allowing no debate or

delay

I thought it best to send aperemptory letter to old man Dorsetthat day, demanding the ransom anddictating how it should be paid.


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Surreptitiously

In a secret or sneaky way

I bought some smoking tobacco,referred casually to the price of black-eyed peas, posted my lettersurreptitiously and came away.


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ineffable

Indescribable; too great to describe

Bill is puffing and blowing, but thereis a look ofineffable peace and

growing content on his rose-pinkfeatures.


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calliope

Keyboard instrument like an organ, witha series of whistles sounded by steamor compressed air.

When the kid found out we weregoing to leave him at home he

started up a howl like acalliope andfastened himself as tight as a leech to

Bill's leg.


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stealthy secret; sly

We weren't afraid he'd run away. He kept us awakefor three hours, jumping up and reaching for his rifleand screeching: "Hist! pard," in mine and Bill's ears,as the fancied crackle of a twig or the rustle of a leaf

revealed to his young imagination the stealthyapproach of the outlaw band.


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lackadaisi

cal

Showing a lack of interest

We knew that Summit couldn't getafter us with anything stronger than

constables and maybe somelackadaisicalbloodhounds (traineddogs).


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Pervade

to spread through all parts of

There was a sylvan attitude ofsomnolent sleepiness pervading that

section of the external outwardsurface of Alabama that lay exposedto my view.


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Palatable

agreeable to the taste; tasty.

"I was rode," says Bill, "the ninetymiles to the stockade, not barring an

inch. Then, when the settlers wasrescued, I was given oats. Sand ain'ta palatable substitute.


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reconnoitre."Explore, investigate.

Now, you and the Chief get up andcook breakfast, while I go up on the

top of this mountain andreconnoitre.


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renegadeA traitor

"Sam," says Bill, "I suppose you'llthink I'm a renegade, but I couldn't

help it.


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proclivities

Natural tendencies

I'm a grown person with masculineproclivities and habits of self-

defense, but there is a time when allsystems of egotism andpredominance fail.


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propositionSuggested plan

I received your letter to-day by post,in regard to the ransom you ask forthe return of my son. I think you are

a little high in your demands, and Ihereby make you a counter-proposition.

The Ransom of the Red Chief Vocabulary

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