The Giver: Chapters 14–18

by Lois Lowry
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a regimented community that is free from pain and suffering—but also free from joy, independence, and even color. When he is appointed the community's Receiver of Memory, Jonas begins to question everything he has been taught.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–13, Chapters 14–18, Chapters 19–23

Explore other lists of The Giver Quartet here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. invigorating
    imparting strength and vitality
    The sled moved forward, and Jonas grinned with delight, looking forward to the breathtaking slide down through the invigorating air.
  2. expanse
    a wide and open space or area, as of land, sea, or sky
    But the runners, this time, couldn’t slice through the frozen expanse as they had on the other, snow-cushioned hill.
  3. deliverance
    recovery or preservation from loss or danger
    There was always a daub of anesthetic ointment, or a pill; or in severe instances, an injection that brought complete and instantaneous deliverance.
  4. unendurable
    incapable of being put up with
    It was not unendurable, as the pain on the hill had been.
  5. assuage
    provide physical relief, as from pain
    It was not enough to assuage the pain that Jonas was beginning, now, to know.
  6. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    Now it was ominous. It meant, he knew, that nothing could be changed.
  7. placidly
    in a quiet and tranquil manner
    “After all this extra time I’ve put in with him,” Father said one evening after Gabriel had been bathed and was lying, for the moment, hugging his hippo placidly in the small crib that had replaced the basket, “I hope they’re not going to decide to release him.”
  8. wisp
    a thin tuft, piece, or amount of something
    He no longer had any more than a wisp of the memory, and he felt a small lack where it had been.
  9. contorted
    twisted, especially as in pain or struggle
    The Giver looked up at him, his face contorted with suffering.
  10. ecstatic
    feeling great rapture or delight
    In one ecstatic memory he had ridden a gleaming brown horse across a field that smelled of damp grass, and had dismounted beside a small stream from which both he and the horse drank cold, clear water.
  11. pervade
    spread or diffuse through
    But this time he fit right in and felt the happiness that pervaded the memory.
  12. permeate
    spread or diffuse through
    And his new, heightened feelings permeated a greater realm than simply his sleep.
  13. suppress
    control and refrain from showing
    They dropped to the ground and lay suppressing giggles.
  14. dejected
    affected or marked by low spirits
    “Me,” Jonas said in a dejected voice. He was not looking forward to the end of the training, when he would become the new Receiver. It was clear to him what a terribly difficult and lonely life it was, despite the honor.
  15. self-possessed
    calm, composed, and fully in control of oneself
    “She was a remarkable young woman. Very self-possessed and serene. Intelligent, eager to learn.”
Created on Thu Sep 26 21:53:34 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Jun 23 16:12:38 EDT 2025)

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