Chocolate War Vocabulary Maps

By: Michelle Wells

LassitudeDefinition; (Noun) Weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.

Evidence from novel; “He was unwilling to abandon this lovely lassitude but he had to, of course.”

My sentence; The tired boy, Jerry Renault, was on the ground with lassitude and pain.

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BenevolentlyDefinition; Characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.

Evidence from novel; “Archie turned and smiled at him benevolently, like a goddamn king passing out favors.”

My sentence; The wonderful girl at the store, Jennifer, smiled at me benevolently.

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LanguidlyDefinition; Lacking in spirit or interest.

Evidence from novel;He moved with a subtle rhythm, languidly, the walk of an athlete although he hated all sports and had nothing but contempt for athletes.

My sentence; The amazing athlete was great even though he languidly hated sports.

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SurreptitiouslyDefinition; secret or unauthorized.

Evidence from novel; He studied the photograph surreptitiously and then closed the magazine and put it back where it belonged, on the top shelf.

My sentence; Heart pounding, eyes alert, he viewed the magazine surreptitiously with fear of his boss catching him reading without paying.

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ContemptuousDefinition; showing or expressing contempt or disdain.

Evidence from novel; The guy’s voice was contemptuous.

My sentence; The girl, Abby, was speaking to me in a contempt tone that I disliked.

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IngratiatingDefinition; Charming; agreeable; pleasing.

Evidence from novel; On the surface, he was one of those pale, ingratiating kind of men who tiptoed through life on small, quick feet.

My sentence; The deformed alien, Bob, thought of himself as ingratiating.

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FeigningDefinition; to imitate deceptively: to feign another's voice.

Evidence from novel; “My help?” Archie asked, feigning surprise, trying to keep any trace of mockery out of his voice.

My sentence; Archie, the weird dude, was feigning Brother Leon’s voice without intent.

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AudacityDefinition; effrontery or insolence; shameless boldness: His questioner's audacity shocked the lecturer.

Evidence from novel; Archie was surprised by Leon’s audacity, knowing his connection with The Vigils and bringing him in here this way.

My Sentence; Brother Leon’s audacity was quite confusing and questionable.

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IrrevocableDefinition; not to be revoked or recalled; unable to be repealed or annulled; unalterable: an irrevocable decree.

Evidence from novel; “Thursday,” Archie said, a command in his voice, no nonsense, final, irrevocable.

My Sentence; The psychotic girl, Bella, had irrevocable memory about what happened the other day.

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InscrutableDefinition; not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable.

Evidence from novel; “Ready,” Archie said, keeping his face expressionless, inscrutable as usual, even though he felt a bead of perspiration trace a cold path from his armpit to his rib.

My sentence; Brenda was mad and tried to keep her face inscrutable and dead, but found it difficult as she was being stared at.

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BewildermentDefinition; a confusing maze or tangle, as of objects or conditions.

Evidence from novel; He looked at the kid Goober who stood there in bewilderment, looking as if he were going to cry.

My sentence; She stood there in bewilderment trying to figure out the direction in which to turn.

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NemesisDefinition; an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.

Evidence; The black box was his nemesis.

My Sentence;The karate master, chin yang, was her nemesis.

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SacrilegiousDefinition; pertaining to or involving sacrilege.

Evidence; “I know you wouldn’t consider anything so sacrilegious.”

My Sentence; Leon was known to stealing sacred, sacrilegious items from others.

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WistfulDefinition; characterized by melancholy; longing; yearning.

Evidence; Emile smiled at Archie, suddenly wistful.

My Sentence; Joanna wistfully grinned at lulu.

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BedlamDefinition; a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion.

Evidence from novel; “My God,” Brother Eugene cried as he entered the classroom and beheld the bedlam.

My sentence; Jennifer had seen the most weirdest, yet possible thing today and she kept her bedlam thoughts to herself.

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Rangy Definition; slender and long-limbed.

Evidence; He continued to fade, fade, easy, easy, stalling until he could spot the Goober, tall and rangy, down field where he’d be waiting if he had managed to elude the safetyman.

My sentence; As I ran across the field, I spotted a rangy figure dressed in all black unable to identify and staring back at me with creepy intentions.

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Adulation Definition; excessive devotion to someone; servile flattery.

Evidence; He didn’t want the adulation of the fellows anymore- he simply wanted to be the Goober, to play football and to run in the morning.

My sentence; The vigils had a special connection to all of it’s members, adulation some may say.

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EdificeDefinition; any large, complex system or organization.

Evidence; “. . . .The need for funds to keep this magnificent edifice of education operating on all gears.”

Sentence; She wanted to make a huge edifice of friends and fun; Sort of like a gang without violence.”

TumultuousDefinition: raising a great clatter and commotion; disorderly or noisy

Evidence; He watched Leon storming away, pushing his way through the tumultuous corridor, disappearing into the swarming stream of boys.

Sentence; I have a classmate that likes to cause a tumultuous commotion in class.

SimonizingDefinition; to shine or polish to a high sheen, especially with wax: to simonize an automobile.

Evidence from novel; “But first of all, the old faithfuls, the people who had become regular customers: Mrs. Swanson who sometimes smelled of liquor but was always eager to buy anything although she kept him talking to long, rambling on about people John Sulkey didn’t even know; and good ole reliable Uncle Louie who was always simonizing his car although simonizing cars. . . .etc.

My sentence; My Uncle Bob liked to simonize his cars to make them look luxurious.

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CommiserationDefinition; to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for; empathize with; pity.

Evidence; “I know,” the teacher said, shaking his head sorrowfully, in commiseration.

My sentence: When her puppy died, I was sad in commiseration.

Buoyant Definition; not easily depressed; cheerful.

Evidence; Brother Leon was buoyant today and his mood spread throughout the class.

My Sentence: I’m starting to notice the change in Jocquiesha, she’s more buoyant.

PandemoniumDefinition; wild uproar or unrestrained disorder; tumult or chaos.

Evidence; Suddenly, Pandemonium reigned.

My sentence; The pandemonium came to a sudden halt.

FarceDefinition; foolish show; mockery; a ridiculous sham.

Evidence; “Well, I understand that the sale is going lousy. Nobody wants to sell the chocolates in the first place and it’s turned into a kind of farce in some classes.”

My sentence; Elaine, the great student, finally acted farce in class today.

ScapegoatDefinition; a person or group made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.

Evidence; He had the feeling that Brother Leon was that kind of character, that he would need a scapegoat and Brian would be closest at hand.

My sentence; Brother Leon is cruel for making Brian his scapegoat.

Calisthenics

QuotaDefinition; the share or proportional part of a total that is required from, or is due or belongs to, a particular district, state, person, group, etc.

Evidence; “The sales are down. Below last year’s. And last year, the quota was half of what has to be sold this year.”

My sentence; StarrKeisha was upset because the sale was failing.

SibilantDefinition;

ApathyDefinition; lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.

Evidence; “The boys have become infected, Cochran. Infected by a disease we could call apathy. A terrible disease. Difficult to cure.”

My sentence; Jerry, the little football player, showed apathy towards the chocolate sale.

BellowsDefinition; the lungs. Evidence; His chest

rose and fell like human bellows.

My sentence; Her bellows were not working properly and she couldn’t breathe well.

DisembodiedDefinition; 1. lacking a body or freed from the body; incorporeal 2. lacking in substance, solidity, or any firm relation to reality

Evidence; He had never spoken to Leon on the telephone before and the disembodied voice at the other end of the line had caught him off balance.

My sentence; I was feeling a little disembodied at the moment when you said hello.

PrecariousDefinition ; exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky.

Evidence; “ Funny, he knew Leon was in a precarious position and yet there was always the danger of underestimating him.”

My sentence; Jenni, the wild bobcat, was in a precarious situation of being caught.

ExultancyDefinition; the act of exulting; lively or triumphant joy, as over success or victory.

Evidence; “ For the first time, the word brought exultancy to him, a lifting of the spirit. “

My sentence; Bob enjoys Christmas because it brings exultancy to him.

DerisionDefinition; ridicule; mockery.

Evidence; “ The chuckle turned into a hoot of derision. “

My sentence; Derision happens to me a lot throughout the day.

CamaraderieDefinition; comradeship; good-fellowship.

Evidence; “Well, Renault, Perhaps I do make a habit of losing landscapes, after all,” he said, and Jerry felt a rush of camaraderie for the teacher.

My sentence; Shayna feels a sense of camaraderie for her peers.

WaylayingDefinition; 1. to intercept or attack from ambush, as in order to rob, seize, or slay. 2. to await and accost unexpectedly

Evidence; “However, he’d seen some of the more prominent Vigil members waylaying kids in the corridors, checking on their sales, whispering menacingly to those who had sold only a few boxes.”

My sentence; The eagles waylaid the jaguars at tonight's game.

MaverickDefinition; a person pursuing rebellious, even potentially disruptive, policies or ideas.

Evidence; “He shuffled to the back of the bus, grateful that it wasn’t one of the crowded school buses but a maverick bus that appeared at odd hours.”

My sentence; Yesterday, a very maverick idea formed and ended. . .pretty well.

LuminousDefinition; 1.radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright. 2. lighted up or illuminated; well-lighted: the luminous ballroom. 3. brilliant intellectually; enlightened or enlightening, as a writer or a writer's works: a luminous concept; luminous prose. 4. clear; readily intelligible

Evidence; Instantly awake, he glanced at the alarm clock’s luminous face.