Chapter 21 — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 21

surreptitious (adjective)

Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of; done stealthily or by stealth

insomnia (noun)

The habitual inability to sleep; a persistent condition of wakefulness when one should be able to rest

idealization (noun)

The act of regarding or representing something as perfect or better than it actually is

unselfconscious (adjective)

Not inhibited or restrained by awareness of oneself; natural and spontaneous in behavior

irony (noun)

A literary device in which the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning, or in which events occur contrary to expectation

displacement (noun)

The state of being moved from one's usual or proper place; a psychological sense of not belonging

tenderness (noun)

Gentleness, kindness, and warmth of feeling; a quality of care expressed softly and without defense

pretension (noun)

An attempt to appear more important, talented, or cultured than is actually the case; false display

fugitive (noun)

A person who has escaped from a place or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest or persecution

deflection (noun)

The act of turning something aside; in psychology, a defense mechanism of redirecting attention away from uncomfortable truths

juxtaposition (noun)

The act of placing two things close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast

accountability (noun)

The fact or condition of being responsible for one's actions and expected to explain them

sanctuary (noun)

A place of refuge or safety; a shelter from danger or hardship

authenticity (noun)

The quality of being genuine, real, and true to one's own character rather than performing or pretending

foil (noun)

A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, in order to highlight particular qualities of each