Fahrenheit 451 Vocab

Abstract

Abstract

(Adj.) Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

Alight

(V.) Descend from a train, bus, or other form of transport; find something by chance; notice something

Anaphora

(N.) The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

Apathy

(N.) Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Arise

(V.) (Of a problem, opportunity, or situation) emerge; become apparent

Bias

(N.) Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair

Cacophony

(N.) A harsh discordant mixture of sounds

Censure

(V.) Express severe disapproval of or suppress someone or something

Confabulate

(V.) Engage in conversation; talk

Contempt

(N.) The feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn

Contemptible

(Adj.) Deserving contempt; despicable; deserving of hate

Dictum

(N.) A formal pronouncement from an authoritative source

Displace

(V.) Take over the place, position, or role of (someone or something)

Dissent

(N.) The expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held (V.) Hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed

Dystopia

(N.) An imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic

Ethos

(N.) A rhetorical or written technique that appeals to the speaker's experience, education, and overall credibility

Exploitation

(N.) The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work

Feign

(V.) Pretend to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury

Flourish

(V.) (Of a person, animal, or other living organism) grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way

Heresy

(N.) Opinions profoundly contrary with what is generally accepted

Iconoclast

(N.) a destroyer of images used in religious worship

Illuminate

(V.) Make (something) visible or bright by shining light on it; light up

Incendiary

(Adj.) (Of a device or attack) designed to cause fires

Insidious

(Adj.) Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects

Juxtaposition

(N.) Two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

Logos

(N.) A rhetorical or written technique that appeals to logic, reason, facts, and statistics, and scientific studies

Lucid

(Adj.) Expressed clearly; easy to understand

Motif

(N.) A repeated pattern—an image, sound, word, or symbol that comes back again and again within a particular story

Nomadic

(Adj.) Living the life of a nomad; wandering

Nonconformist

(N.) A person whose behavior or views do not conform to prevailing ideas or practices

Obtuse

(Adj.) Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand

Odious

(Adj.) Extremely unpleasant; repulsive

Pantomime

(N.) An absurdly exaggerated piece of behavior

Pathos

(N.) A rhetorical or written technique that appeals to a specific emotion

Proclivity

(N.) A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing

Propaganda

(N.) Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view

Pulverize

(V.) Reduce to fine particles

Quibble

(N.) A slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter

Quiver

(V.) Tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion

Radical

(Adj.) (Especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching, extreme, or thorough

Ravenous

(Adj.) (Of hunger or need) very great; voracious

Rogue

(Adj.) Dangerous, uncontrollable, and deviant (N.) A dishonest or corrupt person

Rootless

(Adj.) Having no settled home or social or family ties

Ruddy

(Adj.) (Of a person's face) having a healthy red color

Stagnant

(Adj.) Showing no activity; dull and sluggish

Stolid

(Adj.) (Of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation

Sycophant

(N.) A person who acts obsequiously (obediently) toward someone important in order to gain advantage

Symbol

(N.) A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract

Torrent

(N.) A sudden, violent, and copious outpouring of something, typically words or feelings

Venomous

(Adj.) (Of animals, especially snakes, or their parts) secreting venom; capable of injecting venom by means of a bite or sting. (Of a person or their behavior) full of malice or spite