Lord of the Flies — Vocabulary
William Golding
(Edited)

Book sample Uses ACT/SAT
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traceany indication
There hasn't been the trace of a ship.p.43.57 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
There was not a trace of the defendant's DNA at the crime scene.more
a tiny quantity or indication
Show general definition for trace (as in: found a trace of) a small quantity; or any indication or evidence of
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
  • a small indication that something was present -- as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
  • a very small amount of something -- as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
  • any evidence of something -- as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
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trace#2trace → traceable:able to be followed (to its source)
None of the boys could have found good reason for this; what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy while the most obvious leader was Jack.p.22.77 more
Show context notes The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Early cat domestication is traced back to China over 5,000 years ago.more
trace → traced:found through investigation
Show general definition for trace (as in: trace the origin or development) to find, search, research, or keep track of
This sense of trace usually has to do with information. It's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
to find or search for something through investigation -- often the origin of something:
  • "The police traced the call." -- found out where it originated
  • "We are tracing the lost luggage" -- searching for
  • "Can you trace the problem to its source?" -- find through investigation
  • "She traced her family history to discover that her great-grandmother came to the United States from Lithuania when the Nazis occupied it." -- discovered something through investigation
to research or report on the development of something
  • "She traced the history of the automobile in her paper." -- researched the development of something
  • "Her presentation traced recent progress in alternative energy solutions." -- reported on
to monitor or keep track of the progress or development of something
  • "She traces the progress of at-risk students." -- monitors information
  • "I used binoculars to trace her progress up the mountain." -- monitor, follow, or track
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indignantangered at something unjust
Daring, indignant, Piggy took the conch. "That's what I said! I said about our meetings and things and then you said shut up—"p.43.710 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
"I am not a fool," she said indignantly.more
indignant → indignantly:with anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
Show general definition angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
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directdirect → indirectly:without specifically responding to the question
"When they find me, what are they going to do?"
...
The twins answered his question indirectly. "You got to go now, Ralph. For your own good."p.189.72 more
Show context notes The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
I left them with direct instructions.more
straightforward
Show general definition for direct (as in: gave a direct answer) straightforward -- often clear, open, or blunt in speech or behavior
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clamornoisy demands
Jack started to protest but the clamor changed from the general wish for a chief to an election by acclaim of Ralph himself.p.22.69 more
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She ignored the clamor of the crowd.more
loud noise and/or persistent demands
Show general definition loud noise and/or persistent demands -- especially from human voice
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asthmaa common lung disorder characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes coughing
"My auntie told me not to run," he explained, "on account of my asthma."p.9.49 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization in children.more
5 top 100
conveycommunicate or express
Piggy sought in his mind for words to convey his passionate willingness to carry the conch against all odds.p.172.24 more
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She dresses to convey a sense of a successful, no-nonsense woman.more
8 top 2000
audiblecapable of being heard
The chant was audible but at that distance still wordless.p.68.87 more
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She spoke in a barely audible whisper.more
4 top 100
criticalcritical → critically:in a manner that thoughtfully judges what is good and bad about something
He looked critically at Ralph's golden body and then down at his own clothes.p.11.13 more
Show context notes This is Piggy early in the story. Clearly Piggy did not look critically in the sense of showing disapproval of Ralph's body. Though less commonly used, this is another important meaning of critical. This meaning is commonly stressed when reviewing for standardized tests.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The film is receiving critical acclaim.more
"Critical acclaim" is a common expression meaning praise from people whose job is to share expert judgement.
Show general definition for critical (as in: critical acclaim) relating to careful analysis or thoughtful judgement of what is good and bad about something -- possibly from people whose job is to share their expert opinions in a given industry
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irrelevantirrelevant → irrelevance:something that is unimportant
"We've killed a pig." ...
"You let the fire go out."
Jack checked, vaguely irritated by this irrelevance but too happy to let it worry him.
"We can light the fire again. You should have been with us, Ralph. We had a smashing time."p.69.71 more
Show context notes In this use, the author is not saying that it was unimportant that the fire went out. He is saying that Jack thought it was unimportant.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The sentence should be deleted because it introduces information that is irrelevant to the passage.more
not relevant
Show general definition not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
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implicationimplication → implications:things that can be concluded from knowing something else
"There was a ship."
Jack, faced at once with too many awful implications, ducked away from them.
...
"We might have gone home—"p.70.61 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
I object to her implication that my work was sub-standard.more
something implied (said indirectly)
Show general definition for implication (as in: the implication is that...) Something that follows from something else.
The thing that follows could be:
  • something suggested indirectly (not said directly)
  • something that can be concluded (often a logical consequence)
  • something that results from something else
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contradictvoice disagreement
He snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk. "Next time there would be no mercy." He looked round fiercely, daring them to contradict.p.31.9
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more
disagree with
Show general definition disagree
in various senses, including:
  • to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony."
  • to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened."
  • to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
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contextsituation (or matter at hand)
The shell was interesting and pretty and a worthy plaything; but the vivid phantoms of his day-dream still interposed between him and Piggy, who in this context was an irrelevance.p.16.1
Show context notes In this context, interposed means "were inserted." Golding (the author) is saying that Ralph is so absorbed in his daydream that he is barley noticing the shell or what Piggy is saying.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She said she was quoted out of context and that anyone who read her full speech would know it.more
context → out of context:in a misleading manner (because the quote left out additional words that changed the meaning of what was quoted)
Show context notes When someone is quoted "out of context" it means that selected words were quoted that misrepresent the meaning of all their words.

For example, if you said "I admire their effort, but they are dead wrong if they think this will work," and someone implied that you supported their plan by quoting you as only saying, "I admire their effort," they would be quoting you out of context.
Show general definition the setting or situation in which something occurs
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focusfocus → focused:concentrated
Attention focused on Jack.p.114.22 more
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I find that studying in the library helps me to focus.more
concentrate
Show general definition for focus (as in: Turn your focus to question #2.) to direct attention or effort toward a single thing; or the ability to do so without getting distracted
2
focus#2focus → focused:concentrated sunlight rays by pointing them at the same spot
For the first time on the island, Piggy himself removed his one glass, knelt down and focused the sun on tinder.p.130.62 more
Show context notes Tinder is dry wood or some other burnable material used to start a fire.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The satellite dish focuses the signal into a relatively narrow beam.more
focus → focuses:concentrates
Show general definition for focus (as with technical usage) technical usage typically involves some sense of center or concentration such as:
  • physics — a point where things come together such as the point where light rays meet
  • geometry — a fixed reference point (as of a parabola)
  • geology — the point of origin of an earthquake

See a comprehensive dictionary for other less common meanings.
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gesticulategesticulate → gesticulated:made a gesture (hand or body movement)
"Well, the littluns are—" He gesticulated, sought for a word.p.50.94 more
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The moderator turned her microphone off, leaving us to see her gesticulations, but not hear her words.more
gesticulate → gesticulations:gestures (hand or body movements) made while speaking or to express something
Show general definition to make gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
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tacittacit → tacitly:in an indirect manner (without directly saying it)
Tacitly admitting that he remembered the unmentionable, Ralph nodded to Piggy.p.86.62 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
There was a tacit understanding that Jessica would play good cop and Tyler would play bad cop.more
implied (not directly said, but understood)
Show general definition implied or understood, but not expressed directly
3
incantationsaying words aloud for a "magical" effect
Percival Wemys Madison, of the Vicarage, Harcourt St. Anthony, lying in the long grass, was living through circumstances in which the incantation of his address was powerless to help him.p.94.92 more
Show context notes Percival's name and address indicate that he is from a wealthy, respected family. The author is saying that he has been helped in the past just by stating his name and address, but it won't help him in these circumstances. These words are referenced again towards the end of the book.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She believes in the power of magical incantations.more
incantation → incantations:combinations of words believed to have a magical effect when they are said aloud
Show general definition words believed to have a magical effect when they are said aloud; or the saying of such words
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acclaimenthusiastic choice without a formal vote
Jack started to protest but the clamor changed from the general wish for a chief to an election by acclaim of Ralph himself.p.22.6
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It's a critically acclaimed movie.more
acclaim → acclaimed:popularly and enthusiastically praised
Show general definition to praise enthusiastically and publicly -- sometimes choosing without opposition or a formal vote
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graveserious and solemn
More grave nodding; they knew about nightmares.p.36.67 more
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Her smile disappeared as she suddenly realized the gravity of her situation.more
grave → gravity:seriousness or importance (weightiness)
Show general definition for grave (as in: Her manner was grave.) serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
  • "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." -- important, dangerous, or causing worry
  • "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." -- sad or solemn
  • "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." -- in a sincere and serious manner