El Deafo: "El Deafo" by Cece Bell, List 2

by Cece Bell
In this graphic memoir, Cece Bell chronicles the struggles and triumphs of growing up deaf. Learn these words from the award-winning book.

This list covers vocabulary from pages 74–117.

Here are links to our lists for the work: List 1, List 2, List 3
15 words 2 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. subtitle
    translation of foreign dialogue of a movie or TV program
    Sadly, TV does not have subtitles.
  2. obnoxious
    causing disapproval or protest
    But luckily they are nice enough to tell me what the people on TV are saying...without ever being obnoxious about it.
  3. interrogate
    pose a series of questions to
    The Super Villains interrogate El Deafo—and torture her with more Somewhere in Time!
  4. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
    But it's not over yet for El Deafo! She is accosted by another menacing foe...
  5. menacing
    threatening evil or danger
    But it's not over yet for El Deafo! She is accosted by another menacing foe...
  6. dastardly
    extremely wicked
    At long last, El Deafo faces the mightiest foe of all, the dastardly SuperGinny.
  7. bliss
    a state of extreme happiness
    Ah, summer. Three months of freedom. Three months of bliss. Three months of not wearing the Phonic Ear.
  8. mime
    an actor who communicates entirely by gesture
    But some of the people doing sign language? At me? Some people put on a real show when they start signing—almost like mimes!
  9. vital
    urgently needed; absolutely necessary
    Let's talk about American Sign Language. It's the main language used by deaf people—and it is vital for their communication with other deaf people and their families and friends.
  10. complex
    complicated in structure
    Sign language is quite different from spoken English. It's a very rich language—a very complex language.
  11. miserable
    very unhappy
    I can't believe that my own mother can't see that I am absolutely miserable.
  12. shackle
    a restraint that confines or restricts freedom
    How can El Deafo free herself from the shackles of this weekly humiliation?
  13. persuasion
    communication intended to induce belief or action
    Our hero unleashes her Powers of Persuasion...
  14. unfurl
    unroll, unfold, or spread out
    Enraged, El Deafo busts out of the handcuffs...and unfurls her torpedo-like wrath onto her own mother!
  15. wrath
    intense anger
    Enraged, El Deafo busts out of the handcuffs...and unfurls her torpedo-like wrath onto her own mother!
Created on Mon Aug 04 11:04:16 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Aug 04 11:38:37 EDT 2025)

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