Night by Elie Wiesel- Vocabulary

penury

a state of extreme poverty or destitution

render

cause to become

redemption

the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil

fraught

filled with or attended with

esteem

the condition of being honored

indulgent

given to yielding to the wishes of someone

mystical

relating to a belief in communion with an ultimate reality

insinuate

suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand

despair

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

annihilate

kill in large numbers

dispersed

distributed or spread over a considerable extent

diplomacy

negotiation between nations

liquidate

convert into cash

fascist

relating to authoritarian hierarchical government

abstract

a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance

disquiet

make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

emblem

special design representing a quality, type or group

sublime

inspiring awe

edict

a legally binding command or decision

decree

a legally binding command or decision

prominent

conspicuous in position or importance

bleak

offering little or no hope

ghetto

the restricted quarter of European cities where Jews lived

delusion

an incorrect belief held in the face of contrary evidence

treatise

a formal text that treats a particular topic systematically

rescind

cancel officially

strew

spread by scattering

weariness

temporary loss of strength and energy from hard work

indiscriminately

without paying attention to differences

oppressive

weighing heavily on the senses or spirit

surreptitiously

in a secretive manner

procession

the action of a group moving ahead in a regular formation

hysteria

state of violent mental agitation

morale

a state of individual psychological well-being

conflagration

a very intense and uncontrolled fire

partisan

a fervent and even militant proponent of something

farce

an event or situation that is absurd, empty, or insincere

distinction

a discrimination between different things

expulsion

the act of forcing out someone or something

convoy

a procession of land vehicles traveling together

intolerable

incapable of being put up with

constraint

a limitation or restriction

economize

spend sparingly or avoid waste

irrevocably

in a manner that cannot be taken back

hermetic

completely sealed or airtight

pious

having or showing or expressing respect for god/immortals

abyss

a bottomless gulf or pit

fitful

intermittently stopping and starting

indifferent

showing no care or concern in attitude or action

throng

a large gathering of people

tumult

a state of commotion and noise and confusion

imperative

requiring attention or action

invective

abusive language used to express blame or censure

petrify

cause to become stunned or immobile, as with fear or awe

elude

escape, either physically or mentally

sanctify

render holy by means of religious rites

infernal

characteristic of an uncontrolled and intense fire

exalt

praise, glorify, or honor

nocturnal

belonging to or active during the night

vigor

active strength of body or mind

intersperse

place between or among

threshold

the entrance for passing through a room or building

lucidity

a clear state of mind

garb

clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion

flounder

move clumsily or struggle to move, as in mud or water

notion

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

improvise

perform without preparation

harangue

address forcefully

convalescent

returning to health after illness or weakness

colic

sudden abdominal pain, mostly in infants

ascertain

establish after a calculation, investigation, or study

remorse

a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed

compulsory

required by rule

muster

summon up, call forth, or bring together

camaraderie

the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability

prevailing

most frequent or common

wizened

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

veritable

being truly so called; real or genuine

concur

be in agreement

versed

thoroughly acquainted through study or experience

pittance

an inadequate payment

conscientious

characterized by extreme care and great effort

cynical

believing the worst of human nature and motives

accountable

responsible for one’s actions

evoke

call to mind

extract

remove, usually with some force or effort

famished

extremely hungry

defiance

an act boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

mournful

expressing sorrow

imprudent

not sensible, responsible, or wise

loafer

a person who is idle and does no work

sufficient

of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement

untenable

incapable of being defended or justified

dissipate

go away, scatter or disappear

gallows

an instrument from which a person is executed by hanging

solemn

dignified and somber in manner or character

manacle

confine or restrain with or as if with handcuffs

submission

the condition of ceding control to someone or something else

stricken

grievously affected especially by disease

grandeur

the quality of being magnificent or splendid