"The Last Leaf" Vocabulary by O’Henry

(adj.) very serious, critical [important]

(adj.) noble, courageous, honorable, readiness to help the weak and protect women

(v.) adhering, sticking together [sticking]

(n.) a group having similar interests living in a particular local [community]

(adj.) compatible; having the same tastes and temperament [friendly]

(n.) a poorly painted picture [drop, spot]

(n.) contempt or ridicule [insult]

(n.) disintegration, the ending of life [separation]

(n.) anything counterfeit or worthless [blunderer]

(n.) an irresponsible, flighty person [rumormonger]

(adj.) knotty and twisted as the trunk of an old tree [knotted]

(n.) person who lives alone in a lonely or deluded spot, often from religious motives, recluse [loner]

(n.) a devil's offspring, young demon, a mischievous child [rascal]

(n.) powerful dog used as a guard dog

(n.) an eyeglass for one eye only [glasses]

(adj.) resulted from a diseased state of mind; especially having or showing an unwholesome tendency to dwell on gruesome or gloomy matters [gloomy]

(n.) stock of drugs and medicines available to doctors

(v.) to roam about furtively, as in search of prey or loot [slink]

(adj.) unusual or old fashioned in a pleasing way [strange]

(n.) the act of violent destruction [thief]

(v.) movement, appearance or formation suggesting little waves on the surface [wave, wrinkle]

(n.) Greek myth, represented as having pointed ears, short horns, the head and body of a man, and the legs of a goat; a lustful or lecherous man

(v.) to show mocking contempt, scorn, or derision, especially by language [make fun]

(v.) to hit or strike hard [hit]

(adv.) filled with anxiety or apprehension [cautiously]

(v.) afflicted or affected, as by something painful or very distressing [sad, sorrowful]

(v.) walk boldly, arrogantly, strutted

(n.) a complete meal served at a stated time and fixed price [menu of complete meals]

(v.) to go back and forth over or along, cross, recross [cross over]

(n.) soft, gentle breezes