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).