Scythe: Part Two

by Neal Shusterman
Citra and Rowan live in a society in which all natural causes of death have been eliminated. The two teenagers are recruited to be "scythes," people who administer death in order to cull the population.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

Here are links to our lists for other works by Neal Shusterman: Challenger Deep, Dry
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. beholden
    under a moral obligation to someone
    Thou shalt be beholden to no laws beyond these.
  2. impervious
    not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
    When I was much more naive, I thought that the simplicity of the scythe commandments made them impervious to scrutiny.
  3. bemused
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    Over my many years, I’ve been both bemused and horrified by how malleable and elastic they can be. The things we scythes attempt to justify. The things that we excuse.
  4. ostentatious
    intended to attract notice and impress others
    The scythe’s robe was unusual. Royal blue, speckled with glittering jewels that appeared to be diamonds. Rather ostentatious for a scythe.
  5. elegy
    a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
    What was the collective word for a group of scythes? An “elegy,” wasn’t it? Odd that there’d be a word for something so rare. In his experience, scythes were always solitary, never traveling together. A flight attendant greeted the elegy of scythes, and then the second they were past her, she turned, left the plane, and ran down the jetway.
  6. chastise
    scold or criticize severely
    He lowered his weapon and looked down, chastised.
  7. precept
    a rule of personal conduct
    He shouldn’t enjoy it—that’s one of the basic precepts of Scythedom.
  8. sublimate
    direct energy or urges into useful activities
    Suddenly he found himself sublimating his fear, rising to a place where he could look the scythe in his dark eyes, the same deep shade of blue as his robe.
  9. levity
    a manner lacking seriousness
    “So you get weekends off,” joked Rowan—trying to add a little nervous levity to the discussion.
  10. versed
    thoroughly acquainted through study or experience
    To be a scythe, he explained, meant that one had to be well versed in all methods.
  11. mettle
    the courage to carry on
    But now that he was being mentored by a scythe, he began to feel he might have the mettle to be one.
  12. brazen
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
    Have not a hand in the blade with abandon,
    Cull from the fold all the brazen and bold...
  13. craven
    an abject coward
    For a dog who just might,
    Love the bark and the bite,
    Is a carrion raven, the craven of old.
  14. depravity
    moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
    It reminds me that in spite of our lofty ideals and the many safeguards to protect the Scythedom from corruption and depravity, we must always be vigilant, because power comes infected with the only disease left to us: the virus called human nature.
  15. indiscretion
    a petty misdeed
    “You will not even comment on it in your journal, is that clear? The man’s indiscretion shall never be known.”
  16. vernal
    of or characteristic of or occurring in spring
    Vernal Conclave, which was to take place during the first week of May, was less than a week away.
  17. vestibule
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    There were dozens of other scythes in the entry vestibule.
  18. misgiving
    uneasiness about the fitness of an action
    Rowan was nervous, he just didn’t want to admit it. He knew admitting it would make Citra more worried, which would make him more worried. So he bit back his fears and misgivings, and kept his eyes and ears open, taking in everything that happened around him.
  19. behoove
    be appropriate or necessary
    It behooves us all to move through the agenda quickly.
  20. rostrum
    a platform raised above the surrounding level
    The chamber was a huge semicircle with a large wooden rostrum at the front where the High Blade sat, and slightly lower seats on either side for the Conclave Clerk, who kept records, and the Parliamentarian, who interpreted rules and procedures if any questions arose.
  21. adage
    a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
    The scythe tried to defend himself, claiming the old adage, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but the High Blade wasn’t buying it.
  22. malfeasance
    wrongful conduct by a public official
    “I have before me an anonymous note,” the High Blade said, “which accuses Honorable Scythe Goddard of malfeasance.”
  23. sumptuous
    rich and superior in quality
    Local restaurants vied for the chance to cater the conclave, so lunch was a buffet out in the rotunda even more sumptuous than the one at breakfast—and Faraday packed his plate, which was out of character for him.
  24. mellifluous
    pleasing to the ear
    “Don’t think ill of him,” Scythe Curie told Rowan and Citra, her voice mellifluous, yet sharp at the same time.
  25. posthumously
    after death
    The Weaponsmaster was so impressed, he came up to the stage to take a dose, then, in the ultimate demonstration, proceeded to glean the saleswoman. She sold fifty vials of the stuff to the Scythedom posthumously.
  26. ordain
    invest with ministerial or priestly authority
    Three rings were brought out, resting on red velvet pillows. The four looked to one another now, aware that even though they had passed their final test, one of them would not be ordained and would be sent home in shame.
  27. luminary
    a celebrity who is an inspiration to others
    Then they announced their Patron Historic, the luminary from history whom they would name themselves after.
  28. accolade
    a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
    “At least they could applaud him for trying.”
    “There are no accolades for the unworthy,” Faraday said.
  29. deadpan
    without betraying any feeling
    “Well,” said Curie, with deadpan irony, “how proud your sponsoring scythe must be to have the first perfect pupil in human history.”
  30. camaraderie
    the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
    “Yes,” Scythe Rand continued, “but clearly the competition has turned into camaraderie. How will we ever know which is the better candidate if they continue to aid each other?”
  31. stipulate
    make an express demand or provision in an agreement
    “This conclave cannot stipulate how I train my apprentices! It is my sole right to teach them, train them, and discipline them!”
  32. beguile
    attract; cause to be enamored
    “Do you think you can beguile this conclave with your baubles and vanity? We are not so base as to be dazzled by shiny things.”
  33. estrangement
    separation resulting from hostility
    Estrangement from the collective consciousness of humanity’s wisdom is just one more thing that sets scythes apart from others.
  34. sanctimonious
    excessively or hypocritically pious
    I am not a man easily brought to fury, but how dare the old-guard scythes presume to dictate my behavior? Let every last one of them glean themselves, and we can be done with their self-loathing, sanctimonious ways.
  35. esoteric
    understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
    I see a day when new scythes will be chosen not because of some esoteric moral high ground, but because they enjoy the taking of life.
  36. consummate
    having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
    The executive was frightened—terrified actually—but he hadn’t risen to this level of success by wearing his emotions on his sleeve. He had a keen mind, and a consummate poker face.
  37. baroque
    having elaborate symmetrical ornamentation
    He wore a robe of rich baroque brocades, yet on his feet were frayed, treadworn slippers.
  38. retinue
    the group following and attending to some important person
    Xenocrates had a full retinue of assistants and flunkies in the outside world to help him go about his business, but here in his home, he didn’t have as much as a single servant.
  39. flunky
    an underling of unquestioning obedience
    Xenocrates had a full retinue of assistants and flunkies in the outside world to help him go about his business, but here in his home, he didn’t have as much as a single servant.
  40. insinuation
    an indirect (and usually malicious) implication
    “If you are referring to the decision to set the two of you in mortal competition, that was not my suggestion. I was merely carrying out the will of the Scythedom, and frankly, I find your insinuation offensive.”
Created on Mon Jun 11 15:50:15 EDT 2018 (updated Fri Jan 04 10:15:44 EST 2019)

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