Fahrenheit 451: Vocabulary
Part One: The Hearth and the Salamander
fahrenheit
thermometer scale
salamander
mythological reptile able to live in fire
Phoenix
mythological bird which arose from ashes
dimensions
measurement in length, width, and height
parlor
“living room”
pedestrian
walker
subconscious
occurring with little or no awareness
refracted
bend back to the source, as light rays
marionette
puppet moved by strings
mausoleum
large tomb
tallow
animal fat used for candles
melancholy
sadness or depression
olfactory
of the sense of smell
trajectory
path of something moving
antisocial
acting against the welfare of the people; going against norms or mores (definition for the book)
objectivity
done without prejudice
Tower of Babel
“origin” of world’s various languages
abyss
bottomless gulf
ravenous
greedily hungry
centrifuge
spinning machine which separates particles
praying mantis
insect which paralyzes its prey
mass
large in quantity and number
philosophies
study of the processes and relationships of thought and the universe
controversy
topic in which there is a disagreement
titillation
pleasurable excitement
Part Two: The Sieve and the Sand
subside
to sink or retreat
monologue
long speech by one person
dentrifice
tooth cleanser
submission
resigning to obedience
romantic
idealistic; one who is full of thoughts and feelings rather than practicality
receptacle
container
intuitive
knowing something without reasoning
infinite
endless
skepticism
a questioning attitude
mortal
facing eventual death
insidious
more dangerous than meets the eye
contemptible
deserving scorn
Cheshire Cat
fictitious cat with a broad grin
simultaneously
occurring at the same time
Caesarian
method for delivering a baby
anticipated
foreseen
certitude
certainty or sureness
invigorated
enlivened or made lively
manifested
made apparent to the senses
parried
fought off
chaos
confusion and disorder
verbiage
too many words (wording)
oracle
person of knowledge consulted as a medium
rebut
disagree
tyranny
cruel and unjust use of power
Part Three: Burning Bright
valise
suitcase
incomprehensible
cannot be understood
perpetual
lasting without interruption
incredible
cannot be believed
vacuum
empty space
manikin
model of the human body
blanche
turn white or pale
anaesthetized
total or partial loss of sense of touch? Or,made to forget troubles or pain?
penance
suffering to show sorrow
obscure
indistinct or vague
122 flailing
threshing or beating
sear
burn surfaces
warily
done with caution
scapegoat
person or thing who takes blame for others
insomnia
inability to sleep
incriminate
accuse of a crime
pedants
narrow-minded teachers
convolutions
folds
sloth
tree-dwelling South American mammal (laziness)
scythe
long, curved, single- edged blade
disintegrate
break up into parts
metropolis
large city
oblivion
complete destruction
concussion
violent shaking
pyre
funeral fire