Ender's Game Vocabulary 1-15

incredulous

unable or unwilling to believe something

emulate

to try hard to equal or surpass somebody or something by imitation

commiserate

to feel or express sympathy

ambiguous

causing confusion; lacking clearness or definiteness

supine

lying on the back or having the face upward

vivisect

to perform operations on living animals

subordinates

those who are lower than somebody in rank or status

oust

to remove or force out someone or something

noncompliant

unimportant, failure to obey

deliberately

on purpose

cronies

a close friend, especially one of long standing; buddies

peripheral

the edge of something; around the outside

chafed

when something rubs and causes irritation

malleable

easily persuaded or influenced by others

lithe

flexible and graceful

rescind

to take away

assimilation

taking on cultural and other traits of a larger group

disorientation

losing one's bearing; confusion

Requisitioned

a formal written request for something that is needed

deftly

characterized by facility and skill

asphyxiate

suffocate; to deprive a person or animal of oxygen

nonchalance

appearing calm and unconcerned

sequester

to put somebody in an isolation away from possible disturbances

rendezvous

an agreement between people to meet at a certain time and place

concession

giving into a point or fact in an argument

insubordinate

not submitting to authority; disobedient

initiative

the ability to begin or follow through with a task

infinitely

unlimited or unmeasurable

amplify

increase the volume of

adjacent

having a common boundary or edge

magnanimous

noble spirited, generous, kind, or forgiving

facade

the way something or somebody appears on the surface, but is deceptive

unanimous

in complete agreement

apex

the highest point, tip, or peak

camaraderie

friendship

breached

a violation of law, trust, faith, or promise

meddlesome

to interfere or be intrusive

salaam

a salutation meaning "peace" or to be safe

skirmish

a fight between small bodies of troops

malicious

having an evil nature or intent

pseudonym

false name used by an author

hegemony

authority, control; a dominating influence by one person or group over others

archaic

outdated, ancient, old fashioned

polyglot

a person who speaks, writes, or reads many languages

illuminated

provided with artificial light

monopoly

exclusive control over a product or service

spontaneously

arising from natural impulse, rather than from planning

candor

being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression

xeno

prefix meaning "alien," "strange," or "guest

labyrinth

a maze

simulator

a machine used to recreate certain environmental and other conditions for purposes of training or experimentation

autonomy

independence or freedom over one's actions

errant

straying from the regular or proper course

chauvinist

devoted to military glory

paltry

ridiculously small; worthless

periphery

an external surface

subservient

too eager to follow the wishes or orders of other

inertia

lack of activity

tedious

long, monotonous, or repetitive

fastidious

easily disgusted by things that are not perfectly clean

preemptive

done before somebody else had an opportunity to act

disingenuous

dishonest, deceitful; withholding known information

commission

authority granted for a particular action or function

projectile

moved forward by force

innovations

inventions or ideas

marksmanship

a person who shoots well

contorted

twisted violently

fragmented

broken into separate pieces

infuriate

to make angry

provocateur

person who starts trouble