All Quiet & Joy Luck Vocab Unit

Banal

Lacking originality, freshness, or novelty; trite.

Bequeath

To leave (property) to a person or other beneficiary by a will.

Commandeer

To take possession or control of something, especially for military purposes; to seize by force or without legal right.

Covet

To desire (something belonging to another) with envy.

Emaciated

Abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.

Expound

To explain in detail; to clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing.

Evasive

Tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly.

Fallible

Capable of making mistakes or being erroneous.

Flourish

To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

Indigent

Poor; needy.

Indignation

Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.

Martinet

A strict disciplinarian, especially in the armed forces.

Melancholy

A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

Obliterate

To destroy utterly; to wipe out.

Obtuse

Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.

Ostracize

To exclude (someone) from a society or group.

Placate

To make (someone) less angry or hostile.

Queue

A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.

Reverberation

Prolonged echoes of sound.

Superfluous

Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.

Revile

Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.

Trifling

Unimportant or trivial.

Admonish

Warn or reprimand someone firmly.

Adversary

One's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute.

Apathetic

Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Benevolent

Well meaning and kindly.

Careen

To lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion.

Chastise

Rebuke or reprimand severely.

Deft

Neatly skillful and quick in one's movements.

Deplete

Use up the supply or resources of.

Diligent

Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.

Docile

Ready to accept control or instruction; submissive.

Explicit

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.

Facade

An outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.

Haughty

Arrogantly superior and disdainful.

Innuendo

An allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.

Jaunty

Having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner.

Malignant

(of a disease) very virulent or infectious; malevolent.

Penance

Voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong.

Posterity

All future generations of people.

Procure

Obtain (something), especially with care or effort.

Pungent

Having a sharply strong taste or smell.