Anthem: Parts 3–9

by Ayn Rand
In this dystopian novella, a young man rebels against his conformist society. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the novella: Parts 1–2, Parts 3–9, Parts 10–12
15 words 2385 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. whence
    from what place, source, or cause
    We know not what this power is nor whence it comes.
  2. brine
    water containing salts
    We put a piece of copper and a piece of zinc into a jar of brine, we touched a wire to them, and there, under our fingers, was a miracle which had never occurred before, a new miracle and a new power.
  3. tarry
    stay longer than you should
    So the women of the field were weary, and they tarried over their work, and they were far from the road when we came.
  4. abyss
    a bottomless gulf or pit
    We could not see our body nor feel it, and in that moment nothing existed save our two hands over a wire glowing in a black abyss.
  5. fathom
    come to understand
    But tonight, for a reason we cannot fathom, we wish it were possible to us to know the likeness of our own person.
  6. illustrious
    widely known and esteemed
    We saw a great painting on the wall over their heads, of the twenty illustrious men who had invented the candle.
  7. wretch
    someone who performs some wicked deed
    ...we have much to say to a wretch who have broken all the laws and who boast of their infamy!
  8. infamy
    a state of extreme dishonor
    ...we have much to say to a wretch who have broken all the laws and who boast of their infamy!
  9. decree
    issue an authoritative order
    And if the Councils had decreed that you should be a Street Sweeper, how dared you think that you could be of greater use to men than in sweeping the streets?
  10. unanimity
    everyone being of one mind
    “No, they shall be lashed,” said Unanimity 7-3304, “till there is nothing left under the lashes.”
  11. boon
    something that is desirable, favorable, or beneficial
    “Should it be what they claim of it,” said Harmony 9-2642, “then it would bring ruin to the Department of Candles. The Candle is a great boon to mankind, as approved by all men. Therefore it cannot be destroyed by the whim of one.”
  12. whim
    an odd or fanciful or capricious idea
    “Should it be what they claim of it,” said Harmony 9-2642, “then it would bring ruin to the Department of Candles. The Candle is a great boon to mankind, as approved by all men. Therefore it cannot be destroyed by the whim of one.”
  13. corruption
    moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
    Whatever days are left to us, we shall spend them alone. And we have heard of the corruption to be found in solitude.
  14. solitude
    the state or situation of being alone
    Whatever days are left to us, we shall spend them alone. And we have heard of the corruption to be found in solitude.
  15. redemption
    the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
    We have torn ourselves from the truth which is our brother men, and there is no road back for us, and no redemption.
Created on Tue Jul 27 10:11:44 EDT 2021 (updated Fri Jun 27 12:11:05 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.