Vocabulary for Night Set three: 6 words

quarantine “You’re staying here three days in quarantine. Then you’re going to work. Tomorrow, medical inspection” (Wiesel 46). Because the people were sick with Ebola and no one wanted the sickness to spread, they were all quarantined in a separate house.

definition a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed. POS: Noun Synonyms: Isolate

contrary Who would have said anything to the contrary (Wiesel 46) ? Bruce ignored his father’s contrary advice and agreed to buy the rusty, old car.

definition Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning POS: Adjective Synonyms: opposed, conflicting, clashing

imperceptible Suddenly, we saw the door to Block 37 open imperceptibly. A man appeared crawling like a worm in the direction of the cauldrons. (Wiesel, 56). The lisp that Johnny had as a child is nearly gone and is just imperceptible now.

definition Very slight, gradual or subtle; difficult to perceive by the senses POS: Adjective Synonyms: unnoticeable, faint, undetected

extraction It did not take long to discover why we had been summoned; it was for the extraction of our gold teeth. The extraction of US troops from Vietnam signaled the end of the Vietnam War.

definition The action of taking out something, especially using effort or force (example –dentist) POS: Noun Synonyms: removal, release, freeing

reprieve He was glad to see that I had come back of my own accord, as I had promised. He gave me another reprieve (Wiesel 50). The mother who faced eviction from her house was given a reprieve by the bank.

definition A cancellation or postponement of a punishment; temporary escape from an undesirable fate or unpleasant situation POS: Noun Synonyms: pardon, spare, let off

cynical Juliek, a bespectacled Pole with a cynical smile on his face (Wiesel 47). After a pep talk one day and a lay off the next, the remaining staff was very cynical about the company.

definition Believing that people are motivated by self interest; distrust of human sincerity or motives POS: Adjective Synonyms: doubtful, disbelieving, suspicious