"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 9

In a dystopian future a young girl is forced to fight for her life and the life of her family in Suzanne Collins's hugely successful book series.

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. betrayal
    the quality of aiding an enemy
    For there to be betrayal, there would have had to been trust first.
  2. ludicrous
    inviting ridicule
    That's the first thing I feel, which is ludicrous.
  3. posture
    the arrangement of the body and its limbs
    When I finally conquer walking, there's still sitting, posture -- apparently I have a tendency to duck my head -- eye contact, hand gestures, and smiling.
  4. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
    Effie makes me say a hundred banal phrases starting with a smile, while smiling, or ending with a smile.
  5. aggravate
    exasperate or irritate
    I'm smiling at you even though you're aggravating me."
  6. intrigue
    cause to be interested or curious
    People are intrigued, but no one knows who you are.
  7. appeal
    request earnestly; ask for aid or protection
    If you appeal to the crowd, either by being humorous or brutal or eccentric, you gain favor.
  8. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
    If you appeal to the crowd, either by being humorous or brutal or eccentric, you gain favor.
  9. deprecate
    express strong disapproval of; deplore
    He has a sort of self-deprecating humor naturally," says Haymitch.
  10. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    "Whereas when you open your mouth, you come across more as sullen and hostile."
  11. hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
    "Whereas when you open your mouth, you come across more as sullen and hostile."
  12. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    Try acting humble.
  13. arrogance
    overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner
    We try me playing cocky, but I just don't have the arrogance.
  14. ferocity
    the property of being aggressive or forceful
    Apparently, I'm too "vulnerable" for ferocity.
  15. despise
    look down on with disdain or disgust
    "Just answer the questions and try not to let the audience see how openly you despise them."
  16. delicacy
    something considered choice to eat
    I have dinner that night in my room, ordering an outrageous number of delicacies, eating myself sick, and then
    taking out my anger at Haymitch, at the Hunger Games, at every living being in the Capitol by smashing dishes around my room.
  17. shimmer
    shine with a weak or fitful light
    Finally, they cover my entire body in a powder that makes me shimmer in gold dust.
  18. radiant
    emanating or as if emanating light
    I am as radiant as the sun.
  19. prestigious
    having an excellent reputation; respected
    An elevated seating unit has been set up for prestigious guests, with the stylists commanding the front row.
  20. longevity
    the property of having lived for a considerable time
    You see an elderly person you want to congratulate them on their longevity, ask the secret of survival.
  21. crimson
    a deep and vivid red color
    He looks freakish but less frightening than he did last year when his color was crimson and he seemed to be bleeding.
  22. provocative
    serving or tending to excite or stimulate
    The girl tribute from District 1, looking provocative in a see-through gold gown, steps up the center of the stage to join Caesar for her interview.
  23. lush
    characterized by extravagance and profusion
    With that flowing blonde hair, emerald green eyes, her body tall and lush . . . she's sexy all the way.
  24. ruthless
    without mercy or pity
    The monstrous boy from District 2 is a ruthless killing machine.
  25. gossamer
    a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture
    Rue, who is dressed in a gossamer gown complete with wings, flutters her way to Caesar.
  26. tremulous
    quivering as from weakness or fear
    "I'm very hard to catch," she says in a tremulous voice.
  27. banter
    light teasing repartee
    He ignores Caesar's attempts at banter and answers with a yes or no or just remains silent.
  28. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
    He gives me a subtle thumbs-up.
  29. anecdote
    short account of an incident
    Then has a funny anecdote about the perils of the Capitol showers.
  30. peril
    a source of danger
    Then has a funny anecdote about the perils of the Capitol showers.
  31. mystify
    make unclear
    "Why ever not?" says Caesar, mystified.
Created on Thu Apr 12 15:17:05 EDT 2012 (updated Mon Aug 04 12:08:26 EDT 2014)

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