The Giver: Chapters 1–4

by Lois Lowry
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a regimented community that is free from pain and suffering—but also free from joy, independence, and even color. When he is appointed the community's Receiver of Memory, Jonas begins to question everything he has been taught.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–13, Chapters 14–18, Chapters 19–23

Explore other lists of The Giver Quartet here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ironic
    displaying incongruity between what is expected and what is
    NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WILL BE RELEASED, the Voice had said, followed by silence. There was an ironic tone to that final message, as if the Speaker found it amusing; and Jonas had smiled a little, though he knew what a grim statement it had been.
  2. palpable
    capable of being perceived
    Now, thinking about the feeling of fear as he pedaled home along the river path, he remembered that moment of palpable, stomach-sinking terror when the aircraft had streaked above.
  3. inconvenience
    cause discomfort to
    “I apologize for inconveniencing my learning community.”
  4. apprehensive
    mentally upset over possible misfortune or danger
    But there was a little shudder of nervousness when he thought about it, about what might happen.
    Apprehensive, Jonas decided. That’s what I am.
  5. supplementary
    added to complete or make up a deficiency
    We have him in the extra care section for supplementary nurturing, but the committee’s beginning to talk about releasing him.
  6. adequately
    in a sufficient manner
    Today a repeat offender had been brought before her, someone who had broken the rules before. Someone who she hoped had been adequately and fairly punished, and who had been restored to his place: to his job, his home, his family unit.
  7. transgression
    the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle
    “You know that there’s no third chance. The rules say that if there’s a third transgression, he simply has to be released.”
  8. aptitude
    inherent ability
    Well, it was clear to me — and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them, too — what my aptitude was.
  9. chastisement
    a rebuke for making a mistake
    No one mentioned such things; it was not a rule, but was considered rude to call attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals. Lily, he decided, would have to learn that soon, or she would be called in for chastisement because of her insensitive chatter.
  10. petulantly
    in an easily irritated or annoyed manner
    “...And she told me that the Birthmothers get wonderful food, and they have very gentle exercise periods, and most of the time they just play games and amuse themselves while they’re waiting. I think I’d like that,” Lily said petulantly.
  11. bewilderment
    confusion resulting from failure to understand
    He probably should have brought up his feeling of bewilderment that very evening when the family unit had shared their feelings of the day. But he had not been able to sort out and put words to the source of his confusion, so he had let it pass.
  12. nondescript
    lacking distinct or individual characteristics
    It had changed in mid-air, he remembered. Then it was in his hand, and he looked at it carefully, but it was the same apple. Unchanged. The same size and shape: a perfect sphere. The same nondescript shade, about the same shade as his own tunic.
  13. mystified
    totally perplexed and mixed up
    Jonas had been completely mystified.
    “Ash?” he had called. “Does anything seem strange to you? About the apple?”
  14. invariably
    without change, in every case
    They almost invariably did their hours on Recreation Duty first, helping with the younger ones in a place where they still felt comfortable.
  15. tabulate
    arrange or enter in rows and columns
    All of his volunteer hours would be carefully tabulated at the Hall of Open Records.
Created on Thu Sep 26 20:57:03 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Jun 23 14:34:55 EDT 2025)

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