Chapter 21 — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 21

release (noun)

In the community, a euphemism for death by lethal injection. Citizens are told those who are released go to Elsewhere, but Jonas now knows it means killing.

infrared (adjective)

A type of electromagnetic radiation that detects heat; used in technology that can sense body warmth from a distance.

transmission (noun)

The act of passing or sending something from one person or place to another; in the novel, the process of transferring memories through physical touch.

fugitive (noun)

A person who has escaped from a place or is running away, especially from law enforcement or authority.

evasion (noun)

The act of escaping or avoiding something, especially through cleverness or skill.

impulsive (adjective)

Acting or done quickly without thought or planning; driven by sudden feeling rather than careful deliberation.

terrain (noun)

A stretch of land, especially with regard to its physical features such as hills, valleys, and flatness.

Elsewhere (noun)

The world beyond the community's boundaries; used by citizens as a euphemism for death but understood by Jonas as the real, uncontrolled world he is escaping to.

surveillance (noun)

Close observation or monitoring, especially of a suspected person or area, typically carried out secretly by authorities.

desperate (adjective)

Feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense of urgency; willing to take extreme measures because of a dire situation.

Sameness (noun)

The community's governing philosophy that eliminates all differences, strong emotions, colors, and personal choices in favor of uniformity, safety, and predictability.

conviction (noun)

A firmly held belief or opinion; the quality of being certain about the rightness of one's actions.

underbrush (noun)

Shrubs, small trees, and other vegetation growing beneath the main canopy of a forest or wooded area.

liberation (noun)

The act of setting someone or something free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression.