Divergent: Chapters 10–16

by Veronica Roth
Tris lives in a society divided into strictly separated factions. Given the chance to change her life, she must keep a dangerous secret from those in power.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–16, Chapters 17–24, Chapters 25–31, Chapters 32–39

Here are links to our lists for the trilogy: Divergent,Insurgent, Allegiant
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. faction
    a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue
    “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we are in the same faction now.”
  2. writhe
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    I walk to the center of the arena and my guts writhe as Peter comes toward me, taller than I remembered, arm muscles standing at attention.
  3. sluggish
    moving slowly
    He shoves me and I fall again, scraping my hands on the ground, blinking, sluggish and slow and hot.
  4. fragile
    easily broken or damaged or destroyed
    I could not be attracted to Al—I could not be attracted to anyone that fragile.
  5. diffuse
    move outward
    I smile as much as my bruised cheek will allow, hoping that will diffuse the tension.
  6. mesmerize
    induce hypnosis in
    For a second the colors mesmerize me, bright green and deep blue and brown.
  7. abnegation
    renunciation of one's own interests in favor of others
    It’s one of the many things Erudite gives as evidence of Abnegation’s incompetence.
  8. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
    The dilapidated buildings are gone, replaced by yellow fields and train tracks.
  9. taunt
    harass with persistent criticism or carping
    If Peter tries to taunt me, she will defend me.
  10. smirk
    a smile expressing smugness or scorn instead of pleasure
    “Got something to prove?” asks Eric, with his trademark smirk.
  11. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
    Al gives me a forlorn look, and I smile back in what I hope is a reassuring way.
  12. momentum
    an impelling force or strength
    This time I am ready for the momentum the train gives me, and I run a few steps to diffuse it but keep my balance.
  13. dauntless
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    I have realized that part of being Dauntless is being willing to make things more difficult for yourself in order to be self-sufficient.
  14. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
    We may not be Erudite, but mental preparedness is one aspect of your Dauntless training.
  15. sarcasm
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
    I don’t hear the sarcasm, but I know it’s there.
  16. plummet
    drop sharply
    I imagine my body plummeting, smacking into the bars as it falls down, and my limbs at broken angles on the pavement, just like Rita’s sister when she didn’t make it onto the roof.
  17. camouflage
    device or stratagem for concealment or deceit
    It’s surrounded by open space, but the trees provide some camouflage.
  18. hysteria
    excessive or uncontrollable fear
    I laugh, giddy with hysteria as the ground comes closer and closer.
  19. tantrum
    a display of bad temper
    The guard, a short girl with purple hair, throws her gun to the ground in a tantrum.
  20. patronizing
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    She gives me a patronizing look, the way people sometimes look at children when they act too adult, and snatches the flag from the branch.
  21. compliance
    the act of submitting, usually surrendering power to another
    He’s reached the limits of his compliance.
  22. flinch
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    “You’re going to stand there as he throws those knives,” Eric says to Al, “until you learn not to flinch.”
  23. cowardice
    the trait of lacking courage
    “It doesn’t prove anything except that you’re bullying us. Which, as I recall, is a sign of cowardice.”
  24. snicker
    laugh quietly
    They look up when I walk in and start snickering.
  25. retract
    pull inward or towards a center
    For a second they both shuffle back and forth, one jerking an arm forward and then retracting it, the other kicking and missing.
  26. disparity
    inequality or difference in some respect
    Though they are the two best fighters, the disparity between them is noticeable.
  27. meek
    humble in spirit or manner
    He stands next to a tall man with bushy eyebrows and a short, meek-looking woman with red hair.
  28. placid
    not easily irritated
    She has never looked more out of place, with her gray slacks and gray jacket buttoned at the throat, her hair in its simple twist and her face placid.
  29. premises
    land and the buildings on it
    “I wish I could,” she says, “but the Erudite have prohibited Abnegation visitors from entering their compound. If I tried, I would be removed from the premises.”
  30. lull
    a pause during which things are calm
    When conversation at our table reaches a lull, I hear every word they say.
  31. nostalgic
    unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things
    “Why don’t you just get a dog after initiation if you’re feeling that nostalgic?”
  32. allegiance
    the loyalty that citizens owe to their country
    It’s supposed to make it easier for them to change their allegiance from family to faction—to embrace the principle “faction before blood.”
  33. manifesto
    a public declaration of intentions
    “Have you ever read the faction manifestos?” says Will.
  34. ingenuity
    the power of creative imagination
    A long time ago, Erudite pursued knowledge and ingenuity for the sake of doing good.
  35. depravity
    moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
    Despite the depravity I see in Dauntless, though, I could not leave it.
Created on Sat Jan 10 17:36:16 EST 2015 (updated Tue Apr 09 12:20:14 EDT 2019)

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