Chapter 17 — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 17

Stirrings (noun)

The community's term for the first signs of sexual or romantic desire, which are normally suppressed by daily pills.

heightened (adjective)

Intensified or increased in degree; made more acute or sensitive.

unscheduled (adjective)

Not planned in advance; occurring outside the normal routine or timetable.

permeated (verb)

Spread throughout; penetrated every part of something.

carnage (noun)

The killing of a large number of people; widespread slaughter, especially in battle.

anguish (noun)

Severe mental or physical pain or suffering; extreme distress.

obsolete (adjective)

No longer in use or no longer useful; outdated and discarded.

isolation (noun)

The state of being separated from others; the condition of being alone or cut off.

exhilarating (adjective)

Making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrillingly exciting.

relished (verb)

Enjoyed greatly; took deep pleasure or satisfaction in something.

Sameness (noun)

The community's foundational principle of eliminating all differences, painful memories, and strong emotions to maintain order and predictability.

recipient (noun)

A person who receives something; in the novel, the one chosen to receive transmitted memories.

suppressed (verb)

Forcibly put down or restrained; prevented from being expressed or revealed.

empathy (noun)

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.

nurturing (noun)

The process of caring for and encouraging growth or development; in the community, the official care of newchildren.