The Fault in Our Stars Vocab

Question 1

dubious

Answer 1

hesitant, doubtful

When Augustus first told Hazel that smoking an unlit cigarette was a metaphor, she was dubious.

Question 2

osteosarcoma

Answer 2

a type of bone cancer, occurs in young people

Question 3

memorabilia

Answer 3

souvenirs that are kept because of their memorable significance

A shelf in Gus’s basement reached all the way around the room, and it was stuffed with basketball memorabilia: signed balls and sneakers.

Question 4

fraught

Answer 4

of a situation or action likely to result in something undesirable
OR- causing or affected by anxiety or stress

The day of existentially fraught free throws was coincidentally also my last day of dual leggedness.

Question 5

tenure

Answer 5

the holding of a position of office

I liked that he was a tenured professor in the department of slightly crooked smiles.

Question 6

pretentious

Answer 6

showy, ostentatious

Question 7

suffice

Answer 7

be sufficient, enough

This is an old argument, and it’s stupidity and lack of sophistication could be plumbed for centuries, but suffice it to say that the existence of broccoli does nor in any way affect the taste of chocolate.

Question 8

repulse

Answer 8

to drive back an enemy by force

OR cause someone to feel intense disgust

Question 9

rapt

Answer 9

completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing

The students at Walter Lewin’s lecture were utterly rapt within the first few minutes.

Question 10

gouge

Answer 10

make a groove, hole, or dent with a sharp tool or blade

If Tulips Man is anything other than a gentleman, I’m going to gouge his eyes out.

Question 11

vernacular

Answer 11

the everyday language spoken by people native to a particular place

Question 12

emulate

Answer 12

to imitate

What should a story seek to emulate, Augustus?

Question 13

morphine

Answer 13

a narcotic that treats severe pain, very addictive

Question 14

tenuous

Answer 14

very weak or slight

Question 15

premonition

Answer 15

a strong feeling that something bad is about to happen, foreboding

Question 16

aqueous

Answer 16

adj. watery, containing water

Hazel was told by the nurse to rest and sank into an aqueous sleep.

Question 17

hamartia

Answer 17

a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero

Everyone in this tale has rock solid hamartia: Hazel’s, that she is so sick; yours, that you are so well.

Question 18

entomb

Answer 18

to place a corpse in a tomb

Question 19

vale

Answer 19

a valley

Question 20

edema

Answer 20

puffiness caused by excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues

Question 21

inexorable

Answer 21

adj. impossible to stop or prevent

Question 22

remission

Answer 22

a temporary recovery of a disease

Question 23

eclectic

Answer 23

broad and diverse ideas, style, or taste

Question 24

transom

Answer 24

the flat surface forming the stern(back) of a boat

Question 25

ghettoize

Answer 25

to isolate or segregate

Question 26

gratuitous

Answer 26

lacking good reason, uncalled for | OR given or done free of charge

Question 27

ubiquitous

Answer 27

found everywhere

Question 28

wicker

Answer 28

twigs that are woven to make items such as furniture and baskets

Question 29

paisley

Answer 29

a traditional Indian floral design of teardrops

Question 30

eviscerate

Answer 30

to cut open and remove the organs of a person or animal

Question 31

oncogene

Answer 31

a gene that has the potential to cause cancer

Question 32

commiserate

Answer 32

to express or feel sympathy

Question 33

crematory

Answer 33

a place where a dead person's body is stored

Question 34

obituary

Answer 34

a notice of a death in a newspaper, including a brief bio of the death person

Question 35

humanitarian

Answer 35

a person who believes in the value of human life Hazel wishes that the world was full of humanitarians, who honor everyone's death, even from an illness.

Question 36

lesion

Answer 36

a region of the body that was damaged through injury or disease

Question 37

proverbial

Answer 37

well known, stereotypical | OR a phrase referred to in a proverb

Question 38

oblivion

Answer 38

the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening

Question 39

paragon

Answer 39

a person viewed as a model or example of a quality

Question 40

the royal "we"

Answer 40

the use of "we" instead of "I" meaning "God and I" used by a sovereign

Question 41

indulge

Answer 41

become involved in an undesirable activity | OR-allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of

Question 42

vitrine (vitreene)

Answer 42

a glass display case

Question 43

vigilante

Answer 43

a member of a self appointed group that act as an informal police department in a community

Question 44

sinew

Answer 44

a piece of tough fibrous tissue joining muscle to bone, or bone to bone, or tendon to ligament

Question 45

gallows humor

Answer 45

sarcastic humor in a desperate sitation

Question 45

goad

Answer 45

provoke or annoy someone for some reaction

Question 46

beatify

Answer 46

announce the blessing of

Question 47

voracious

Answer 47

wanting or devouring great quantities of food

Question 48

monolith

Answer 48

a large upright block of stone used as a pillar or monument