The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story — Vocabulary
R. J. Palacio
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
9 top 1000
remorseregret for doing something wrong
There was no sign of remorse until the police caught her.more
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Don't you feel any remorse for what you've done?p.54.68 more
regret for doing something that was wrong
Show general definition a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Show editor's word notes Synonym comparison (if you're into word choice):

Many consider the word remorse stronger than the word regret. Also, it is more personal. One might regret that their team lost the game, but feel remorse that they missed the bus and weren't there to help the team.
6 top 1000
cleavesplit
Large molecules cleave at their weakest points and produce smaller fragments.more
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"I could swear he said the boy had a cleft palate," she answered, "but this is so much worse than that."p.22.85 more
cleave → cleft palate:an opening or split in the roof of the mouth
Show general definition for cleave (as in: cleave through) to split or cut through something
Show editor's word notes Ironically, this word can mean to split in two or to hold together.

Note that you may see cleaved, cleft, clove, or cloven as the past tense of this sense of cleave.
2 top 500
initiatebegin the process of
The study concluded that women initiate divorce more frequently than men.more
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"And you know for a fact that it's Julian who initiated all this?" asked Dad.p.47.91 more
initiate → initiated:started
Show general definition for initiate (as in: initiate discussions) to cause (something) to begin
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expelexpel → expulsion:the act of forcing out (in this case, kicking someone out of school)
Her records show expulsion from two schools.more
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"I was surprised they didn't expel him," said Henry's mom.p.35.32 more
kick out of a school
Show general definition force out
especially in 2 primary senses:
  • kicking someone out of an organization -- such as a school or country
  • squeezing something to eliminate a liquid or gas
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interjectinterject → interjected:inserted (a comment)
"That's not true," she interjected.more
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"Excuse me," Mom interjected angrily.p.41.91 more
interject → interjected:quickly inserted (interrupting what another is saying)
Show general definition to insert -- especially to quickly insert a comment that interrupts what another is saying
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liberateset free
She works to liberate the religious minority from persecution.more
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We didn't find out he was dead until after the liberation.p.82.31 more
liberate → liberation:being set free
Show general definition to set free -- as from prison, political oppression, persecution, expectations...
1 top 100
reflectreflect → reflects:thinks carefully
At the beginning of this passage, the author reflects on her life as a waitress.more
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A fresh start gives us the chance to reflect on the past, weigh the things we've done, and apply what we've learned from those things to the future.p.68.1
think carefully
Show general definition for reflect (as in: I want to reflect on it.) think carefully -- possibly aloud or in writing
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resolveresolve → resolved:settled or solved
Three of the five issues have already been resolved.more
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"The reason we asked you here today is because, unfortunately," Dr. Jansen continued, "we have a serious matter on our hands, and we'd like to figure out the best way to resolve it."p.40.5
settle
Show general definition for resolve (as in: How was the problem resolved?) to solve a problem, settle a disagreement, or for a situation to change
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dwellthink or talk about something longer than seems appropriate
Don't dwell on the past.more
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I do not like to dwell on the past.p.92.4
think or discuss for a long time
Show general definition for dwell (as in: Don't dwell on it.) to think, communicate, or let attention stay on (or return to) something for a prolonged period
1 top 500
empathythe understanding and sharing of others' feelings
She lacks empathy and is very selfish.more
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We want him to feel some empathy—p.48.9
understanding of other's feelings
Show general definition the ability, tendency, or act of understanding and sharing another's emotional state
1 top 2000
goadgoad → goaded:provoked (angered or annoyed)
She goaded him into an argument.more
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"He was goaded into writing them!" answered Mom.p.52.7
goad → goaded:provoked or encouraged to do something
Show general definition to provoke or annoy someone into doing something—often something unwise

or:

to prod an animal to move, or the stick used to do so
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mischievousplayfully causing minor trouble
The mischievous puppy kept stealing socks and hiding them under the couch.more
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I had no idea you were so mischievous!†p.79.3
playfully causing minor trouble; OR  describing the smile of someone doing so
Show general definition playfully causing minor trouble; or describing the smile of someone doing so
Show editor's word notes Much less commonly, mischievous can reference real harm without any sense of fun. But in modern writing, that usage has largely shifted to other words like malicious, destructive, or damaging.
1 top 2000
purgerid
She thinks fasting once a month helps purge her body of impurities.more
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It was a purge.†p.81.9
get rid of
Show general definition get rid of things thought undesirable
The exact meaning of purge can depend upon its context. For example:
  • "purge the government of our enemies" -- get rid of people for political reasons
  • "purge my closet of everything I haven't worn in a year" -- get rid of undesired things
  • "To purge yourself of crippling sorrow, you'll need to express it." -- get rid of unwanted feelings
  • "I'm doing a 24-hour purge and then starting a new diet." -- emptying the intestinal tract
1
instantaneousimmediate
Relief was instantaneous.more
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Almost instantaneously, tears rolled down Grandmere's cheeks.†p.81.4
instantaneous → instantaneously:immediately (happening with no delay)
Show general definition immediate (happening instantly with no delay)
1
polioa viral disease that causes paralysis
Polio paralyzed and killed thousands of Americans a year before vaccination began in 1955.more
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Alors, well, Tourteau's legs were deformed from the polio.†p.72.9
viral disease that causes muscle paralysis
Show general definition a viral disease that can cause paralysis and sometimes death
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preceptrule for behavior
She accepts the Golden Rule as a precept.more
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I just sent you my precept in the mail: "Sometimes it's good to start over."p.66.58 more
Show general definition a rule for behavior -- especially a shared moral doctrine
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narratoran actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience)
The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more
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But Tourteau was an excellent narrator, and he made me laugh a lot.p.79.2
someone who tells a story
Show general definition someone who tells a story--especially the main voice in a documentary, or a character who talks directly to the audience in a movie, play or other performance
1
premonitiona feeling, not based on reason, that something will happen
She had a premonition that her child would be hurt.more
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I should have taken that as a premonition.p.55.7
Show general definition a feeling, not based on reason, that something will happen -- especially something bad
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synagoguesynagogue → synagogues:Jewish houses of worship
They were arrested for planning to bomb a series of synagogues.more
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We didn't even go to synagogue.†p.72.4
a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith
Show general definition a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith
2
ramificationsconsequences or effects
She didn’t realize all the legal ramifications of breaking the contract.more
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I just don't think you understand all the legal ramifications.p.89.31 more
complications that result from an initial action
Show general definition consequences or effects of an action -- often ones that are complex or unintended