Johnny Tremain: Chapters 7–9

by Esther Forbes
The year is 1773, and fourteen-year-old Johnny is an apprentice silversmith in Boston. When a terrible accident threatens his future, Johnny must quickly adapt — just as the American colonists join forces to break free from British rule.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–12
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. paroxysm
    a sudden uncontrollable attack
    But when that bill came—the fiddler’s bill—that bill for the tea, it was so much heavier than anyone expected, Boston was thrown into a paroxysm of anger and despair.
  2. indifferent
    showing no care or concern in attitude or action
    The punishment united the often jealous, often indifferent, separate colonies, as the Tea Party itself had not.
  3. oppression
    the state of being kept down by unjust use of authority
    This closing of the port of Boston was indeed tyranny; this was oppression; this was the last straw upon the back of many a moderate man.
  4. inundate
    overwhelm or fill quickly beyond capacity
    Boston was inundated with British soldiers, and now every third person one met in the street wore the handsome uniform of King George the Third.
  5. defiance
    an act boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
    Already on every village green throughout New England, men and boys were drilling in defiance of the King’s orders.
    In Old French, defiance was a declaration of war. In Latin, the act was a little less hostile: "dis" means "away" and "fidus" means "faithful" so defiance was turning away from one's faith or loyalty, which can be seen as "intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude." While New England would use the chosen definition to describe the military drilling, the King would see this behavior as extremely disrespectful.
  6. commandeer
    take arbitrarily or by force
    Goblin was the only horse in the stable that did not belong to a British officer, for the landlord had sent his to the country, fearing they would either be commandeered by the occupying troops or that he could not get hay for them.
  7. respite
    a relief from harm or discomfort
    It was a crisp, fresh day for summer, the first respite after a week of unendurable heat.
  8. impudent
    improperly forward or bold
    You are too tired. If you had not been, you would never have been so impudent as to contradict me.
  9. sentry
    a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
    He had been dozing, but woke quickly, hearing the sentries yell and the corporal commanding the gates to be opened.
  10. rout
    cause to flee
    First folk like them get routed out of Milton—then out of Boston.
    An older English meaning of the word is "group of persons." Through the Latin "rupta" which means "broken," it came to mean "a disorderly crowd of people." Another meaning of "rout" as a noun is "an overwhelming defeat." All the definitions connect, because people who are overwhelmingly defeated are often forced to flee in a disorderly way. This can be seen in the way the Lytes, in the middle of dinner, flee their country house because a mob threatens them outside.
  11. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    We can have that freedom only by fighting for it. God grant we fight soon. For ten years we’ve tried this and we’ve tried that. We’ve tried to placate them and they to placate us. Gentlemen, you know it has not worked. I will not work for peace.
  12. allay
    lessen the intensity of or calm
    Mrs. Revere's letter would allay their suspicions.
  13. maudlin
    very sentimental or emotional
    Dove was getting maudlin. There were tears in his eyes as he told them how much he loved them.
  14. dilatory
    wasting time
    King George was in a fury over the dilatory, cautious behavior of his general.
  15. qualm
    uneasiness about the fitness of an action
    If he had had any qualms, he would never mention them. Johnny decided to do the same, but Pumpkin’s death badly unnerved him.
Created on 一月 14, 2016 (updated 四月 3, 2026)

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