We Were Liars: Part Two

by E. Lockhart
Something terrible happened on the private island where Cadence and her family spend their summers — but Cadence can't remember what it was. When she returns to the island, Cadence begins to uncover the truth.


Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

Here is a link to our lists for Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. variation
    something a little different from others of the same type
    I have time on my hands, so let me tell you a story. A variation, I am saying, of a story you have heard before.
  2. inherit
    obtain from someone after their death
    As he grew old, he began to wonder which should inherit the kingdom, since none had married and he had no heir.
  3. demonstrate
    provide evidence for
    The king decided to ask his daughters to demonstrate their love for him.
  4. favor
    a feeling of positive regard
    The eldest daughter and the middle sister have been living with the king all this time. One has been in favor one week, the other the next.
  5. demented
    affected with madness or insanity
    Before long, however, she realizes the king is demented and power-mad.
  6. tyrant
    a cruel and oppressive dictator
    She is to be queen, but she is also stuck tending to a crazy old tyrant for the rest of her days.
  7. accumulation
    a gain or increase in something over time
    For the old people in my family—Mummy, the aunties,
    Granddad—the accumulation of beautiful objects is a life goal.
  8. prosperity
    the condition of having good fortune
    Not one of these symbols of prosperity and taste has any use at all.
  9. status
    the relative position or standing of things or persons
    I think there is status to having a house full of pretty things, to buying expensive paintings of seashells from her arty friends and spoons from Tiffany’s.
  10. amnesia
    partial or total loss of memory
    If I Google traumatic brain injury, most websites tell me selective amnesia is a consequence.
  11. coherent
    marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts
    She will be unable to piece together a coherent story of the trauma.
  12. diagnosis
    identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
    I knew they must have happened, because of course they happened—and here I am with a diagnosis and medications—but nearly all my medical treatment is a blank.
  13. traumatic
    of or relating to a physical injury or wound to the body
    That’s why I can tell you about the night-swimming accident, the rocks, the hypothermia, respiratory difficulty, and the unconfirmed traumatic brain injury.
  14. sober
    not affected by a chemical substance, especially alcohol
    I never asked her anything again. There’s a lot I don’t understand, but this way she stays pretty sober.
  15. wretched
    deserving or inciting pity
    I make myself wretched, sobbing.
  16. invincible
    incapable of being overcome or subdued
    He always seemed invincible, with firm, broad shoulders and lots of teeth.
  17. motto
    a favorite saying of a sect or political group
    Granddad is the sort of person who has mottos.
  18. pronouncement
    an authoritative declaration
    We Liars used to roll our eyes at these pronouncements—“Be decisive; no one likes a waffler”; “Never complain, never explain”—but we still saw him as full of wisdom on grown-up topics.
  19. expectation
    anticipating with confidence of fulfillment
    That is why I dyed my hair: I don’t want to be the eldest. Heiress to the island, the fortune, and the expectations.
  20. pitiful
    inspiring mixed contempt and sorrow
    He looks pitiful. He looks powerful.
  21. plea
    a humble request for help from someone in authority
    He sent his eldest daughter to beg the dragon for mercy, but the dragon listened to not a word of her pleas.
  22. mercy
    the act of showing great kindness toward the distressed
    Then the king sent his second daughter to beg the dragon for
    mercy, but the dragon did the same.
  23. perish
    pass from physical life
    The king then sent his youngest daughter to beg the dragon for mercy, and she was so lovely and clever that he was sure she would succeed where the others had perished.
  24. regret
    sadness associated with some wrong or disappointment
    The king was left aching with regret.
  25. negotiation
    a discussion intended to produce an agreement
    After Granddad leaves the next day, Mummy calls Dad and cancels the Australia trip. There is yelling. There is negotiation.
  26. involve
    engage as a participant
    He will not lose the whole summer with me or there will be lawyers involved.
  27. fragile
    easily broken or damaged or destroyed
    I can’t hear anything except a few phrases: Cadence is so fragile, needs lots of rest.
  28. gradual
    proceeding in small stages
    Nothing should disturb her, the healing is very gradual.
  29. addict
    someone who is physiologically dependent on a substance
    “I’m not a drug addict, you pipsqueak,” I say. Though possibly I am lying.
  30. convinced
    having a strong belief or conviction
    When he was younger he was always the kid who thought there were monsters in the closet. Later he was convinced there was a sea monster under the dock.
Created on Wed Mar 09 13:46:45 EST 2016 (updated Wed Dec 12 11:59:28 EST 2018)

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