They Called Us Enemy: Pages 138–169

by George Takei
In this graphic memoir, actor and activist George Takei recounts the internment of his Japanese-American family during World War II.

Here are links to our list for the memoir: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4
15 words 1055 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. comply
    act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
    Why did you comply with something that was fundamentally wrong?
  2. arrogant
    having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance
    It still pains me to this day...that arrogant boy's outspoken bluntness inflicted on his father...a man who knew the anguish of those dark internment years more intensely than that boy could ever understand.
  3. advocate
    speak, plead, or argue in favor of
    The man devoted his life to advocating for Japanese Americans during, as well as after, the war.
  4. avow
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
    ...a bill that would expatriate certain persons...who have openly avowed their disloyalty to the United States...and have disclaimed loyalty to the United States, although they were born in this country.
  5. imperial
    relating to or associated with an empire
    That way, we may offer them to the imperial government of Japan in exchange for American citizens who are now being held.
  6. renounce
    turn away from; give up
    This bill will grant an opportunity for individuals who feel loyalty to the emperor...to renounce their citizenship...
  7. irony
    incongruity between what might be expected and what occurs
    The irony was that the barbed-wire fences that incarcerated us also protected us.
  8. reverberate
    have a long or continuing effect
    In August of 1945, news from the outside world reverberated through the camps of a devastating attack on Japan.
  9. propaganda
    information that is spread to promote some cause
    Some people in camp thought it was propaganda intended to keep us off guard.
  10. inordinate
    beyond normal limits
    Sir, this is an inordinate amount of paperwork.
  11. deportation
    the act of expelling a person from their native land
    On November 13, 1945, two days before deportations were scheduled to start...Collins filed habeas corpus suits representing 935 plaintiffs.
  12. habeas corpus
    a writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge
    On November 13, 1945, two days before deportations were scheduled to start...Collins filed habeas corpus suits representing 935 plaintiffs.
  13. plaintiff
    a person who brings an action in a court of law
    On November 13, 1945, two days before deportations were scheduled to start...Collins filed habeas corpus suits representing 935 plaintiffs.
  14. mitigation
    the action of lessening in severity or intensity
    Wayne Collins had gotten Mama a mitigation hearing just two days before the ship sailed.
  15. sustain
    supply with necessities and support
    But this could not sustain us for long, as Daddy was not making a commission for these services.
Created on Thu Jan 09 10:12:29 EST 2020 (updated Fri Jun 20 18:17:22 EDT 2025)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.