The Secret Garden: Vocabulary Words

The Secret Garden: Chapter 1 Vocabulary Words: 1. Fretful: irritable, restless. Example: "When she was a sickly, fretful, ugly little baby she was kept out of the way." 2. Tyrannical: using power over people in a way that is cruel and unfair. Example: "By the time she was six years old, she was tyrannical and selfish." 3. Stammered: to speak or say something with unusual pauses or repeated sounds; stutter. Example: "The woman looked frightened, but she only stammered."

The Secret Garden: Chapter 1 4. Slunk: move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps. Example: "The native servants slunk or hurried about with ashy and scared faces." 5. Disdaining: a feeling of strong dislike or disapproval of someone or something you think does not deserve respect. Example: "Her hair was like curly silk and she had a delicate little nose which seemed to be disdaining things." 6. Imploringly: in a very sincere, emotional, and determined way that shows you want someone to do or not do something. Example: "Her eyes were large and scared and lifted imploringly to the fair boy officer's face."

The Secret Garden: Chapter 1 7. Apalling: something that is appalling is so bad or unpleasant that it shocks you. Example: "After that, apalling things happened, and the mysteriousness of the morning was explained to Mary." 8. Bewilderment: the quality or state of being lost, perplexed, or confused. Example: "During the confusion and bewilderment of the second day, Mary hid herself in the nursery and was forgotten by everyone." 9. Hastily: with excessive speed or urgency; hurriedly. Example: "The plates looked as if they had been hastily pushed back."

The Secret Garden: Chapter 2 Vocabulary Words: 1. Impudent: rude and not showing respect. Example: "Basil was a little boy with impudent blue eyes and a turned-up nose and Mary hated him." 2. Desolate: a depressingly empty or bare place. Example: "He lives in a great, big desolate old house in the country and no one goes near him." 3. Sallow: the skin appearing pale-yellowish color and looks unhealthy. Example: "If she were not so sallow and had a nicer expression, her features are rather good."

The Secret Garden: Chapter 2 4. Marred: spoiled and petish (irritable). Example: "Mary is a marred-looking young girl." 5. Discomfited: uncomfortable and upset. Example: "Mrs. Medlock looked rather discomfited by Mary but after taking a breath, she went on."