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