Catcher in the Rye Vocab

English 10 Honors

ostracize

to banish; to shut out from a group or society by common consent

unscrupulous

dishonest; not guided or controlled by moral principles

pacifist

one who is against war or the use of violence

lavish

extremely generous or extravagant; giving unsparingly

conscientious

characterized by extreme care and great effort

humble

modest

nonchalant

in a casually calm and relaxed manner

passionate

having or expressing strong emotions

suave

smoothly agreeable or polite

recuperating

to regain health or strength

scraggy

lean or thin; scrawny

inferiority

strong feelings of inadequacy; not being as good as others

bourgeois

of or characteristic of the middle class; a middle class person

swanky

stylishly luxurious and expensive; ostentatious or elegant

mutiny

rebellion against authority

raspy

harsh or grating noise

alternative

one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen

bunk

nonsense

blasé

indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures; apathetic

clique

a small, exclusive group; a group held together by like interests or purpose

precision

the degree to which repeated measurements show the same result

sacrilegious

grossly disrespectful of what is sacred

inane

silly; stupid; insane

boisterous

noisy and rowdy

fraternity

a group of people sharing a common profession or interests

incognito

the real identity concealed

cockeyed

turned or twisted toward one side

digression

wandering away from the subject; swaying from main point

pedagogical

anything relating to a person who is pedantic, dogmatic, and formal; related to teaching

provocative

tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying