Chapter 10 — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 10

denounce (verb)

To publicly declare to be wrong or evil; to condemn openly.

heretical (adjective)

Holding opinions that contradict established beliefs or accepted standards.

viviparous (adjective)

Giving birth to live young that have developed inside the body of the parent, as opposed to hatching from eggs or being produced artificially.

decanting (noun)

In the World State, the process of removing a fully developed human being from its artificial gestation bottle; analogous to birth.

Malthusian (adjective)

Relating to Thomas Malthus and his theories about population control; in the novel, referring to contraceptive practices mandatory in the World State.

imperious (adjective)

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.

peripeteia (noun)

A sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances, especially in a dramatic work.

deviance (noun)

The fact or state of departing from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or political behavior.

conformity (noun)

Compliance with standards, rules, or laws; behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions.

oscillate (verb)

To move or swing back and forth between two points, positions, or states.

choreograph (verb)

To plan and control an event or situation carefully and in detail to achieve a desired result.

hypnopaedia (noun)

Sleep-teaching; in the novel, the World State's method of conditioning citizens by playing recorded messages during sleep.

repugnant (adjective)

Extremely distasteful; unacceptable and arousing strong feelings of disgust.

genuflection (noun)

The act of lowering one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically as a sign of reverence or worship.

bureaucratic (adjective)

Relating to the business of running an organization or government, often characterized by rigid procedures and excessive administration.