A Separate Peace Vocabulary
Chapter 1
1. Tacit
ADJ. unspoken, implied
 There is a TACIT rule amongst students at Wheaton North High School: No one wears black
and orange, the colors of Wheaton Warrenville South, our rivals.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
2. Contentious ADJ. controversial, argumentative; quarrelsome
 The discussion I had with my parents this weekend was a CONTENTIOUS one; they do not
agree with my plans to run away with the circus after high school.
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3. Consternation N. sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in confusion
 There was much CONSTERNATION in the cafeteria yesterday when the fire alarm rang
during the busy lunch period.
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Chapter 2
4. Eloquence
N. the practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness
 The English teacher spoke with such ELOQUENCE and grace that all of her students aspired
to be equally great instructors of vocabulary.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
5. Inane
ADJ. empty, void; lacking sense or ideas
 After the boxes were packed and loaded into the moving truck, my childhood home was
suddenly INANE.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 3
6. Venerable
ADJ. commanding respect because of great age or impressive
dignity
 The VENERABLE young man was honored for giving his life in the line of duty—he is an
exceptional example of grace, courage, and honor.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
7. Insidious
ADJ. stealthily treacherous or deceitful
 Hiding in the bushes, the INSIDIOUS boy plotted to steal candy from the young trick-ortreaters.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 4
8. Enmity
N. hatred
 During hockey season, there is great ENMITY between Blackhawks and Red Wings fans
because of their close geographic proximity.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
9. Treachery
N. betrayal of trust, treason
 Offering information to enemy spies is an extreme example of TREACHERY.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 5
10. Erratic
ADJ. deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion;
eccentric
 Her behavior was ERRATIC, varying from obeying all of the rules to breaking every one.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 6
11. Vindicate
V. to clear, as from an accusation or suspicion; to get revenge
for
 A lawyer’s job is to VINDICATE his client so that they are no longer accused of a crime.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
12. Invoking
V. to petition or call on for help or aid
 Night-time television is inundated with heart-wrenching commercials INVOKING viewers
to donate money to needy children and animals.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 7
13. Futility
N. ineffectiveness; uselessness
The FUTILITY of the computers was evident as every student stared at a frozen screen.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 8
14. Discernible ADJ. distinguishable; perceptible
There was a DISCERNIBLE feeling of cheer in the air as students left the building for holiday
break.
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15. Abashed
ADJ. ashamed or embarrassed
His red face and shuffling feet let us know that the boy was ABASHED by the questioning from
his mom.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 9
16. Liaison
N. one who serves as communication between units or groups of the
armed forces or of any other organization in order to ensure
concerted action, cooperation, etc.
 Wheaton North’s police LIAISON officer serves as both a police officer for the City of
Wheaton as well as for our high school.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 10
17. Foreboding ADJ. characterized by a feeling of impending evil, disaster, etc.
 I had a very FOREBODING feeling as I heard the basement door creak closed behind me.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 11
18. Incredulously ADV. skeptically, disbelievingly
 When my mom told me I didn’t have to go to school because of a snow day on that April 1 st
morning, I looked at her INCREDULOUSLY.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Chapter 12
19. Incongruity N. the condition of being inappropriate or inconsistent
 There was INCONGRUITY amongst the rules: some were fair and some were completely
unjust.
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20. Disconcerting ADJ. causing a feeling of disturbance, embarrassment, or confusion;
worrying
 Watching three-year-old contestants spray tan in preparation for a beauty pageant is
DISCONCERTING, to say the least.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: