List Of Vocabulary Words For Night By: Elie Wiesel


WordDefinition
Abominable Thoroughly unpleasant; detestable; horrible
Abstraction A concept not associated with any specific thing or instance; a generalization
Abyss A deep gulf or cavity; anything profound or infinite
Alleged As described; as asserted ;supposed
Anecdote A short account of a particular amusing incident.
Antechamber A small waiting room that serves as entrance to another room.
Automaton A person moving in a routine manner without intelligence.
Avid Enthusiastic; eager; dedicated; greedy.
Barometer Metaphorically, any indicator that registers changes.
Benediction Blessing; an utterance expressing good wishes.
Billet To provide lodging for; to stay.
Blandishment A flattering or enticing speech or action
Buffoon A fool; a clown; a person given to undignified joking.
Cabbala A system of often-secret mysticism in Jewish thought
Cauldron A large kettle or boiling pot.
Civilian Any person not a soldier, esp. during wartime.
Clasp To fasten; to seize or grip
Compulsory Required; mandatory
Congeal To change from a fluid to solid; to solidify
Conviction A fixed or firm belief; the state of being convicted
Crematory A furnace where a corpse can be burned and reduced to ash
Crucible A vessel that heats substances to very high temperatures.
Defiance A daring or bold resistance to authority or an opposing force.
Deprived Lacking; having had something taken away from oneself.
Derision Ridicule; mocking; jeering or contemptuous laughter
Devoid Lacking; not possessing;
Disinterested Unbiased by personal advantage; impartial.
Disperse To drive or send off in various directions; to scatter; to dispel
Distinguish To recognize as different; to perceive clearly
Firmament The sky; the heavens.
Formality Something done merely out of custom or politeness; strict adherence to rules.
Ghetto A city section inhabited by members of a single ethnic group.
Hasidic A Jewish sect that emphasizes mysticism, prayer, and joy.
Hermetically So as to be airtight; so as to be completely sealed
Hysteria An uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear; also, delirium.
Improvise To compose or perform on the spur of the moment.
Indeterminate Not precisely fixed; vague; not settled or decided; uncertain.
Indifferent Without concern or care; also, average; also, without bias.
Indiscriminate Thoughtless; jumbled; unselective; random
Dysentery An infectious disease marked by bloody diarrhea.
Emaciated Extremely thin; scrawny; gaunt; starved
Embrace To hug; also, to willingly accept.
Emigrate To leave one country or region in order to settle in another.
Encumber To burden; to weigh down; to obstruct
Entity Something that has separate and distinct existence & reality.
Expel To force away; to drive out
Falter To hesitate; to speak haltingly; also, to stumble.
Famished Extremely hungry; starving
Farce A foolish show; a mockery; a ridiculous bit of fakery.
Indulgent Permissive; lenient; tolerant
Inheritance Property passing to the heir upon the owner's passing.
Interminable Unending; annoyingly & tediously continued; unlimited
Invalid One who is too sick or too weak to care for oneself.
Knell The sound made by a bell rung slowly; also, a sign of death.
Lucidity Quality of being easily understood; clear & comprehensible.
Melancholy Mournful; depressed; soberly and gloomily thoughtless.
Monochrome The state of being in a single color.
Morale Mental or emotional condition, esp. cheerfulness & confidence; emotional well-being.
Oblivion The quality of being forgotten; also, forgetfulness
Oppressive Unjustly harsh; grievous; causing distress or discomfort
Optimist One who expects favorable outcomes/takes favorable views.
Perilous Hazardous; dangerous; risky.
Petrol Gasoline (British term).
Pious Showing reverence; earnestly religious.
Premonition A feeling of anxiety over the future; a warning of the future.
Provisions A stock of necessary supplies, esp. food.
Queue A line of people waiting their turn
Ration A fixed allowance of food; an allotted amount
Relentless Strict; harsh; steady and persistent; unceasing
Reprieve Relief from or postponement from an impending punishment
Revive To restore to life or consciousness; to bring back into use
Revolt To rebel; to mutiny; to rise against authority
Sentimental Expressive of tender emotions; also, nostalgic
Slacken To make or become less active or intense; also, to loosen
Summarily Immediately; without notice; performed speedily
Surname A family name; the name shared with other family members
Talmud This book collects Jewish law & tradition for Orthodox Jews
Truncheon Billy club; baton; a short stick used by authority figures
Unremitting Incessant; never slackening; persistent; uninterrupted
Vague Not clearly stated or expressed; indistinct
Venture To undertake something involving uncertainty or risk of danger
Veteran A person who has had long service or experience
Void An empty space; emptiness; a loss
Waif A child who has no home, family, or friends
Withered Shriveled, as if form loss of moisture
Surreal Having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream; unreal; odd
Inert Sluggish; immobile; unable to move or act
Ascertain To find out or learn definitely
Altruistic Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others
Untenable Indefensible; unjustifiable