The Book Thief: Part Four and Five

Mackenzie S. (United States of America)
Liesel Meminger is a foster child living in Nazi Germany in 1939. Surrounded by violence, hardship, and war, Liesel is watched over by Death, who narrates her story. Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten–Epilogue
20 words 38 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. affront
    a deliberately offensive act
    He ran in the middle, climbed in the middle, and he could shoot straight enough so as not to affront his superiors.
  2. malignant
    dangerous to health
    Cold sweat—that malignant little friend—outstaying its welcome in the armpits and trousers.
  3. innocuous
    lacking intent or capacity to injure
    Innocuously, a man walked past.
  4. capitulate
    surrender under agreed conditions
    As is often the case, the family surrounded the bed and watched him capitulate.
  5. gallantry
    the qualities of a hero or heroine
    Personally, I quite like that. Such stupid gallantry.
  6. archetypal
    of an original pattern on which other things are modeled
    A group of die-hard friends and enemies would gather down at a small reserve on Steber Street, and they would fight in the dying light. Archetypal Germans, the odd Jew, the boys from the east.
  7. proffer
    present for acceptance or rejection
    Kugler proffered a warning.
  8. emulate
    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
    Walter was always seeking revenge for that first victory Max took from him, and Max was looking to emulate his moment of glory.
  9. bemused
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    It was a kind of bemused, inaugural silence.
  10. callous
    emotionally hardened
    “For starters,” he said, “I will take each and everyone of your books— and I will burn them.” It was callous. “I’ll throw them in the stove or the fireplace.”
  11. machination
    a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends
  12. dissipate
    cause to separate and go in different directions
  13. disconcerting
    causing an emotional disturbance
  14. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
  15. qualm
    uneasiness about the fitness of an action
  16. microcosm
    a miniature model of something
  17. array
    an impressive display or assortment
  18. altercation
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
  19. cohort
    a band of warriors
  20. revel
    take delight in
Created on Thu Feb 27 22:48:46 EST 2025 (updated Fri Mar 06 13:48:53 EST 2026)

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