The Outsiders VocabChapters 1-3

unfathomable (adj.)

Impossible to understand; incomprehensible

“He liked fights, blonds, and for some unfathomable reason, school” (10).

fiery (adj.)

Very angry or hot (tempered)

“Fiery, huh? Well, that’s the way I like ‘em” (24).

nonchalant (adj.)

Very casually; acting as if you don’t care

“Y’all sit up here with us. You can protect us.” . . . “Okay,” I said nonchalantly, “might as well.”

gallant (adj.)

Considerate (esp. to women); chivalrous and gentlemanly

“Two-Bit gallantly offered to walk [Cherry and Marcia] home—the west side of town was only about twenty miles away” (37).

ornery (adj.)

Bad-tempered and combative; grumpy; cantankerous

“When I was ten I thought that Mickey Mouse and Soda looked alike and were alike. Mickey Mouse was a dark-gold buckskin, sassy and ornery, not much more than a colt” (39).

bleak (adj.)

Dreary; cheerless

“It’s the truth,” Johnny said with a bleak grin. “I don’t care” (46).