Pre-AP Vocabulary – A Separate Peace
Chapters 1-4
Tacit - Adj - understood or implied without being stated openly
Cupola – noun- architecture a roof or ceiling in the form of a dome
Foyer – noun - the lobby in a public building such as a hotel or theater
Specters – noun - a ghostly presence or apparition
Salient – adj - particularly noticeable, striking, or relevant
Mire – noun - an area of very marshy ground or deep slushy mud
Demotion – noun - a reduction in the rank, status, or position of somebody or something
Prodigious – adj - great in amount, size, or extent
Regimen – noun - a prescribed or recommended program of medication, diet, exercise, or other measures intended
to improve health or fitness, or stabilize a medical condition
Consternation – noun – a feeling of alarm, confusion, or dismay, often caused by something unexpected
Reverberate – verb - intransitive verb to echo repeatedly
Collaborator – noun - to work with another person or group in order to achieve something
Conniver – noun – to plan secretly to do something, usually something wrong or illegal
Catacombs – noun - an underground cemetery consisting of passages or tunnels with rooms and recesses used as
burial chambers leading off them. In ancient Rome, Christians used catacombs for burial.
Inured – verb - to make somebody used to something unpleasant over a period of time, so that he or she no longer
is bothered or upset by it.
Anarchy – noun - a situation in which there is a total lack of organization or control.
Anguish – noun - extreme anxiety or emotional torment.
Insidious – adj – slowly and subtly harmful or destructive.
Encroaching – verb – to intrude gradually or stealthily, often taking away somebody’s authority, rights, or property.
Mordantly – adj - sharply sarcastic or scathingly critical.
Obliterated – verb – to destroy something so that nothing remains.
Solace – noun – comfort at a time of sadness, grief, or disappointment
Effulgence – adj - brightness or a brilliant light radiating from something.
Paganism – noun – an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody who does not acknowledge the God of the
Bible, Torah, or Koran.
Undulation – verb - to move in waves or in a movement resembling waves, or cause something to move in this way
Chapters 5-7
Denounce – verb - to criticize or condemn something publicly and harshly
Diminished – adj - describes a musical interval or chord reduced by one semitone
Ludicrous – adj - utterly ridiculous because of being absurd, incongruous, impractical, or unsuitable
Reverie - noun - a state of idle and pleasant contemplation
Imply – verb – to make something understood without expressing it directly
Vindicated – verb - to clear somebody or something of blame, guilt, suspicion, or doubt
Idiosyncratic – adj - a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is peculiar to an individual or group, especially an
odd or unusual one
Emissaries – noun – an agent or representative sent on a particular mission
Motes – noun – a tiny speck or particle
Immersions – noun - involvement in something that completely occupies all the time, energy, or concentration
available
Transcended – verb – to go beyond a limit or range, e.g. of thought or belief
Infinitesimal – adj – very small in number, amount, or degree
Turbid – adj – opaque and muddy as when particles and sediment are stirred up
Sinecure – noun – a job or position that provides a regular income, but requires little or no work
Nonentity – noun - somebody regarded as unimportant, powerless, or insignificant
Goaded – verb - to provoke or incite somebody into action
Skirmish – noun - an incident where fighting breaks out briefly between two small groups, sometimes as part of a
larger battle
Pre-empted – verb - to do something that makes it pointless or impossible for somebody else to do what he or she
intended
Impinge – verb - to affect the limits of something, especially a right or law, often causing some kind of restriction
Insinuating – adj – hinting at or implying something unpleasant
Fratricide – noun – the crime of killing a brother
Galvanized – adj - to stimulate somebody or something into great activity
Implausibility – adj – hardly likely to be true
Solicited – verb - to try to get something by making insistent requests or pleas
Virtuoso – noun - a musician who shows exceptional ability, technique, or artistry
Chapters 8-10
Sanctity – noun - the condition of being considered sacred or holy, and therefore entitled to respect and reverence
Discern – verb – to see or notice something that is not very clear or obvious
Gaunt – adj – extremely thin and bony in appearance
Opulent – adj - characterized by an obvious or lavish display of wealth or affluence
Reticent – adj - unwilling to communicate very much, talk freely, or reveal all the facts about something
Sentinel - noun – a guard or lookout
Whimsical - adj – imaginative and impulsive
Pungent - adj – strong smelling or strong tasting
Poignant – adj – causing sadness or pity
Grotesque – adj – misshapen, especially in a strange or disturbing way
Sustenance – noun – something, especially food, that supports life.
Exhorted – verb – to urge somebody strongly and earnestly to do something
Buoyed – verb – to keep something from falling or sinking
Gibe – noun – a comment that is intended to hurt or provoke somebody or to show derision or contempt
Abashed – verb – to make somebody feel ashamed, embarrassed, or uncomfortable
Desolation – noun – solitary, joyless, and without hope
Cacophony – noun – an unpleasant combination of loud, often jarring sounds
Accolade – noun – a sign or expression of high praise and esteem for somebody
Droll – adj – oddly amusing in a wry or odd way
Concocted – verb – to create something by mixing or combining various ingredients in a new way, especially in
cooking
Presaged – noun – a sign or warning of a future event
Austerity – noun – severity of discipline, regime, expression, or design
Fervently – adverb – showing ardent or extremely passionate enthusiasm
Querulous – adj – inclined to complain or find fault
Rejoinder – noun – a reply to something said, especially one that is sharp, critical, angry, defensive, or clever
Chapters 11-13
Inveigled – verb – to charm or entice somebody into doing something that he or she would not otherwise have done
Pantomime – noun – somebody who acts without speaking, using gesture and expression
Latent – adj – present or existing, but in an underdeveloped or unexpressed form
Vestibule – noun – a small room or hall between an outer door and the main part of a building
Bane – noun – something that continually causes problems or misery
Culminating – verb – to reach a climax or point of highest development, or make something do this
Masquerade – noun – a party at which masks and costumes are worn, whether an informal gathering of friends
Torpidly – adverb – lacking physical or mental energy
Opaque – adj – not transparent or translucent; obscure and unintelligible in meaning
Balustrade – noun – decorative railing
Timbre – noun – the quality of a speech sound that comes from its tone rather than its pitch or volume
Incarnate – adj – having a bodily form, especially a human form; being the epitome of something
Tumult – noun – a violent or noisy commotion
Incongruity – noun – the fact of being incongruous; something that doesn’t fit well
Decrepit – adj – in poor condition, especially as a result of being old, overused, or not working efficiently
Impervious – adj – not allowing passage into or through something
Rite – noun – a solemn ceremony or procedure customary to a community, especially a religious group
Languid – adj – lacking vigor and energy
Precariously – adverb – dangerously unstable, unsteady, uncertain, or insecure
Bellicose – adj - ready or inclined to quarrel, fight, or go to war
Cogitation – verb – to think deeply and carefully about something
Vigor – noun – great physical or mental strength and energy
Chaos – noun – a state of complete disorder and confusion
Forlornly – adverb – lonely and miserable, as though deserted or abandoned
Parry – verb – to block or deflect the damaging effect of a blow or weapon