English exam sophomore year

Zionism

movement for Jewish political/geographical state

phylactery

small leather boxes holding Old Testament scripture

hermetically

airtight

truncheon

baton; club

Hasidic

relating to a sect of Judaism characterized by its emphasis on mysticism, prayer, ritual strictness, religious zeal, and joy

pestilential

harmful, annoyingly troublesome

waiflike

describing a person who is homeless, friendless, neglected

Kapo

concentration camp prisoner who was given privileges in return for supervising other prisoners

Gestapo

the Germano state secret police during the Nazi regime; ran concentration camps

Holocoust

the systematic mass slaughter of European Jews in Nazi concentration camps during World War II

Mein Kampf

the autobiography of Adolf Hitler, setting forth his political philosophy and his plan for German conquest

"Final Solution"

the Nazi program of annihilating the Jews of Europe during the Third Reich

Talmud

the collection of Jewish law and tradition consisting of the Mishnah and Gemara

Fascist

a member of governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc, and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism

Pentecost

a Christian festival celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles

Rosh Hashanah

a Jewish high holy day that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri by Orthodox and Conservative Jews and only on the first day by Reform Jews

Kaddish

a liturgical prayer, consisting of three or six verses, recited at specified points during each of the three daily services and on certain other occasions

Yom Kippur

a Jewish high holy day observed on the 10th day of the month of Tishri by abstinence from food and drink and by the daylong recitation of prayers of repentance in the synagogue.

protuberant

bulging out beyond the surrounding surface; protruding; projecting

provident

having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future

repugnance

strong distaste or aversion, or objection; antipathy

singularities

unusual, or unique quantity; peculiarity

fervid

heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm

erudite

characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly

unctuous

having an oily or soapy feel, as certain minerals

repose

dignified calmness, as of manner; composure

prosaic

commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unnimaginitive

rumination

to mediate or muse; ponder

cajolery

persuasion by flattery or promises; wheedling; coaxing

ingeniously

cleverly inventive or resourceful

clupable

deserving blame or censure; blameworthy

odious

highly offensive; repugnant; disgusting

irascibility

easily provoked to anger; very irritable

exiguity

scanty; meager; small; slender

epigram

any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed

advent

a coming into place, view, or being; arrival

veracious

characterized by truthfulness; true, accurate, or honest in content

ignominiously

shamefully

drole de guerre

phony war

melee

a confused struggle

adept

very skilled or proficient at something

snide

derogatory in a nasty, insinuating manner

acrid

stinging or biting in odor or taste; harsh; irritating

detritus

waste or debris of any kind, trash, rubbish

gallivanting

go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment

glib

ready and fluent in speech; thoughtless, insecure

miasma

stench; strong small; an unwholesome atmosphere

gnarled

knotted, twisted

tepid

lukewarm

impetuous

impulsive

solicitude

care; concern

tentative

hesitant

acolyte

a devoted follower

dullards

a slow or stupid person

propriety

the quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs

fortitude

strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage

ineptitude

lack of skill, ability, or competence

acutely

sharply; intensely

verboten

forbidden; prohibited

marred

blemished by injury or rough wear

atrocities

horrible acts against innocent people

Stukas

German aircraft

Ausweis

identification, ID

invectives

abusive language

Aryan

to the Nazis, the Germanic peoples who formed a "master race."

Bolshevik

Communist

Vichy

"puppet state" set up by the Germans in France

laden

burdened, weighed down

gait

a person's manner of walking

furtive

done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty, stolen

incongruities

inconsistencies, things that do not seem to go together

askew

to one side; crooked; not in a straight or level position

ersatz

artificial, synthetic; an inferior substitute; fake

miserly

careful with how money is spent; thrifty

dispel

scatter; drive away; cause to vanish

officious

offering one's services when they are neither wanted nor needed

genuflected

lower one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect

disparagement

belittlement

exalt

to glorify, prais, or honor

haggard

appearing worn and exhausted

intemperate

extreme

reprisal

retaliation in the form of harm or injury similar to that recieved

vagrant

wandering

abash

to make ashamed or embarassed

fidelity

faithfulness to duties; loyalty and devotion

vindicate

to clear of suspicion, doubt, or blame