Fahrenheit 451Vocabulary

Part I

“The Hearth and the Salamander”

Dictum

decree; declaration; order

Mausoleum

a stately and magnificent tomb

Phoenix

a mythical bird who can burn itself and rise from it is ashes in the freshness of youth

Ravenous

grasping; greedy; eager

Ballistics

the study of the functioning of firearms

Amber

a hard translucent yellow, orange, or brownish-yellow fossil resin used for making jewelry

Waft

to carry lightly and smoothly

Imperceptibly

in a hidden, undetectable manner

Olfactory

of or pertaining to the sense of smell

Tamped

packed down tightly

Centrifuge

an apparatus that rotates at a high speed and separates substances of different densities, like milk and cream

Tallow

hard fat obtained from parts of the bodies of cattle, sheep, or horses and to make candles and soaps

Minstrel

one of a troupe of entertainers made up in blackface and presenting a comic variety show

Cacophony

harsh discordance of sound

Proclivities

natural inclinations or tendencies

Part II

“The Sieve and the Sand”

HarlequinBuffoon, comic, clown

cadencedWith a rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words

patronageFinancial support or assistance

Aesthetic Relating to beauty

teemAbound or swarm; be plentiful

intuitivelySeemingly; reasonably; most likely

praetorianRelated to elected magistrates charged chiefly with the administration of civil justice

insidiousArtful; clever; crafty

sieveAn instrument with a meshed bottom used for separating coarse from fine parts of loose matter or for straining liquids

trifleArticle or thing of very little value

oblivionThe state of being forgotten

welterClamor; commotion

falterTo be unsteady; to stumble

Linguists Persons who are skilled in several languages

arsonistsPersons who willfully set fire to buildings, or other property, for an improper use

ContemptibleShameful; despicable; disgusting

Suffused Was spread through or over, as with liquid, color, or light

Part III

“Burning Bright”

valiseA small piece of luggage that can be carried by hand, used to hold clothing, toilet articles, etc.

Desolation Bleakness; devastation; ruin

Cardamom A tropical Asian plant of the ginger family, used as a spice in medicine

Raveled Became disjoined thread by thread or fiber by fiber; frayed

Wielding handling a weapon or tool with skill and ease

Perpetual Continuing or enduring forever

Incessantly Continuously; without stopping

Penance A punishment undergone in token of regret for a sin

juggernautAn overwhelming, advancing force that crushes or seems to crush everything in its path

séanceA meeting, session, or sitting

Phosphorescent Illuminated; glowing; ablaze

Liquefaction The act or process of making liquid

Ricocheted Bounced; leaped; seesawed

Incomprehensible Impossible to understand