Month: November 2018

Disdainful (adjective): full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior, full of or expressing scorn or disdain.

The word disdainful I encountered when reading the story entitled, “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell. On page 155, it states that, “Then, as if releasing herself from something strange. Mrs. Hale began to arrange the dirty pans under the sink, which the county attorney’s disdainful push of the foot had deranged”. I have encountered this word numerous times after reviewing the story on Thursday, November 15th, 2018. When I stumbled upon this word, I was unsure of the meaning within the context in the story. It was describing two different events occurring; one with Mrs. Hale and one of the county attorney’s. I assumed the word disdainful meant something unpleasing to a certain extent. I assumed it was because the county attorney had “shoved” the pans as if he was scooting them over. I see it has a deeper meaning than that because following that paragraph Mrs. Hale was talking about men criticizing them and snooping. I see it means now to express contempt and feeling inferior because within that society women are inferior to the men. They are seen to perform tasks such as housekeeping and are still scorned if it is not to the men’s liking.

Gallantry (noun): brave and noble; polite to women.

Source: Webster’s New World 4th Edition (pocket dictionary).

Susan Glaspell says the following “‘And yet,’ said he, with the gallantry of a young politician.” But before this, she mentions that the county’s attorney seemed to have remembered his manners. This helps to understand the meaning of gallantry even better. “Remembering his manners” implies that gallantry has to do with being polite. Honestly, I feel like it was used sarcastically because of how the men were treating the housewives.

Diana Galvez

Acquiescence: to submit or comply silently or without protest; agree;contest(verb)

 

While reading ” A Jury of her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, I came across the word acquiescence, which looked very unfamiliar to me so I decided to look further into what this word could’ve meant. When I saw this word, it reminded me of the word acquaintance, but I figured these two had no connection towards each other. The sentenced which included this word stated “in her manner of timid acquiescence”, I guessed that the author meant that the sheriff’s wife was timid and had to agree with everything her husband says. According to dictionary.com, I was somewhat close, acquiescence has to deal with a person doing something out of there will, which is the sheriff’s wife situation. Acquiescence can now be used in my essays if I were describing a person having no say in anything.

Nayideh Rene

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “Retorted” means to pay or hurl back. Otherwise, it can mean to return an argument or charge. The word was found in a writing piece called “Sweats” by Zora Neale Hurtston, it’s included in the sentence “A god, an’ be dough. You all gimme twenty cents and a slice way, Clarke retorted.” I feel like the second definition as mentioned earlier makes for sense for this context so by using that definition, I can interpret that the context means that he argued his point since he did sound assertive in the sentence.

Stumbling(Verb)

According to the dictionary Marriam-Webster the word stumblimg mean”To fall into sin or waywardness.”

Based on the last lecture, ”Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston we read, ” she nearly fell upon the box in her stumbling.”

After I understand the word stumbling which mean fall down because of something, I understand more the quote above, that’s mean  she was get fall down by the nearly box. Continue reading “Stumbling” →

muf•fled (adjective)

The definition of muffled is a sound that is not loud because of being obstructed in some way, muted according to the dictionary. This word is seen in the story, “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell when it states, “ Mrs. Peter had turned away. When she spoke, her voice was muffled.” Now knowing the definition of this word I know now that the author was stating that once Mrs. Peter was going to speak she was muted and couldn’t speak.

Bear: take, handle or accept(verb)

I saw this word being used in the story “A Jury of her peers” by Susan Glaspell in the sentence “The picture of that girl, the fact that she had lived neighbor to that girl for twenty years, and had let her die for a lack of life, was suddenly more than she could bear.” She couldn’t handle or accept the fact that she didn’t help Minnie Foster even though she was her neighbor and could have helped. She felt guilty about this and the realization of that made it too much for her to handle. This is how I have come to understand the meaning of the word bear.

The word commence is defined as to have or make a beginning or to enter upon according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. In the story by Zora Neale Hurston, “Sweat”, I encountered this word while reading. On Thursday November 8th, I found this word on page 272. It stated that, “She saw that Sykes had kicked all of the clothes together again, and now stood in her way truculently, his whole manner hoping, praying, for an argument. But she walked calmly around him and commenced to re-sort the things”. In this context the word was used as a past tense version to the original word “commence”. When I encountered this word I was unsure of its meaning, I thought the word relating to cleaning and tidying up because in this part of the text it talks about her argument with Sykes and how she went back to resorting things. Since she was a washwoman I assumed the word had to deal with cleaning, organizing, and more. I see the word clearer after looking up the definition because she is beginning to re-sort the things. She is entering upon the house after the argument and going to organize after meaning she did not start as yet. The word commence in this context of the story is understandable now after looking up the definition and replacing the definition words into the sentence.

The word queer is an adjective and according to Meriam-Webster’s thesaurus it means affected with nausea. I first encountered this word in “ A Jury Of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell and the text says, “He didn’t begin at once, and she noticed that he looked queer–as if standing in that kitchen and having to tell what he had seen there yesterday morning made him almost sick.” This shows that Mr. Hale was still feeling queasy and nauseous after discovering the body of Mr. Wright and being in the room again didn’t help that feeling go away. I think this word will be hard for me to use in my writing since there’s so many definitions but with the write sentence structure and concept I should use it well.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, aggravating is defined as arousing displeasure, impatience, or anger. In the reading “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston, the word appears on page 272 in the sixth paragraph as stated “You sho is one aggravatin’ nigger woman!” he declared and stepped into the room. She resumed her work and did not answer him at once. “Ah done tole you time and again to keep them white folks’ clothes outa dis house.” Now knowing what this word means, Delia been getting on his nerves by refusing to listen to his orders and as a result, is often mistreated by her husband physically and mentally, by using the whip.