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.
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2. contentious
ADJ. controversial, argumentative; quarrelsome
• The discussion I had with my parents this weekend was a CONTENTIOUS one; they
disapprove of 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.
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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 of our life from the past 18 years.
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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.
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7. insidious
ADJ. stealthily treacherous or deceitful
• Hiding in the bushes, the INSIDIOUS boy plotted to steal candy from the young trick-ortreaters.
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Chapter 4
8. Enmity
N. hatred
• During hockey season, there is great ENMITY between rival Blackhawks and Red Wings fans
because of their close geographic proximity.
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9. treachery
N. betrayal of trust, treason
• Offering information on your country to enemy spies is an extreme example of
TREACHERY.
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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.
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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.
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12. invoking
V. to petition or call on for help or aid
• Night-time television is filled with heart-wrenching commercials INVOKING viewers to
donate money to needy children and animals.
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Chapter 7
13. futility
N. ineffectiveness; uselessness
The FUTILITY of the computers was evident as every student stared at a frozen screen.
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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.
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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.
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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 1st
morning, I looked at her INCREDULOUSLY.
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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.
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