In the Time of the Butterflies: Part 1

by Julia Alvarez
Based on the historical Mirabal sisters, this is a fictionalized account of why and how they decide to fight dictator Rafael Trujillo's oppressive regime in the Dominican Republic.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Epilogue
15 words 2387 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. posthumous
    occurring or coming into existence after a person's death
    Now after thirty-four years, the commemorations and interviews and presentations of posthumous honors have almost stopped, so that for months at a time Dedé is able to take up her own life again.
  2. snippet
    a small piece of anything
    Perhaps this is the only way to grieve the big things — in snippets, pinches, little sips of sadness.
  3. circumscribe
    restrict or confine
    Dedé looks at her watch as a polite reminder to the woman that the visit is circumscribed.
  4. specter
    a ghostly appearing figure
    But the nearer the big day approached, the more the specter of Lina haunted us as we did jumping jacks in the Lina Lovatón Gymnasium. Her beautiful portrait stared across the room at the picture of El Jefe on the opposite wall.
  5. epistle
    a specially long, formal letter
    On the way, Sor Asunción read us the epistle, which is what she called the rules we were to observe.
  6. blithely
    in a joyous, carefree, or unconcerned manner
    We looked blithely at the road ahead, quadruplet angels.
  7. epaulet
    an ornamental cloth pad worn on the shoulder
    He was wearing a fancy white uniform with gold fringe epaulets and a breast of medals like an actor playing a part.
  8. languish
    experience prolonged suffering in an unpleasant situation or place
    Over a century, languishing in chains,
    Dare I now hope for freedom from my woes?
    Oh, Liberty, unfold your brilliant bow.
  9. manifest
    reveal its presence or make an appearance
    He said that maybe I had a calling for the religious life that was manifesting itself early on.
  10. volition
    the act of making a choice
    They saw the pains I took keeping my back straight during early mass, my hands steepled and held up of my own volition, not perched on the back of a pew as if petition were conversation.
  11. admonish
    scold or reprimand; take to task
    “Come, come, little sister," I’d admonish her. “Don’t play with the word of God.”
  12. aversion
    a feeling of intense dislike
    The days started to fill, Nelson was born, and two years later, Noris, and soon I had a third belly growing larger each day. They say around here that bellies stir up certain cravings or aversions.
  13. extol
    praise, glorify, or honor
    Extolling its many virtues, the salesman noted that this was El Jefe’s favorite car.
  14. desist
    stop performing some action
    I should have desisted, I should not have seen what I saw.
  15. profusely
    in very large amounts or quantities; extremely
    Finally we called on some distant relations, who scolded us profusely for not having come to them in the first place.
Created on Tue Nov 26 22:53:09 EST 2013 (updated Thu Jul 31 14:43:22 EDT 2025)

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