Devil’s
Arithmetic
Vocabulary
unleavened
 Made
without yeast or any other
leavening agent
gruesome
 Causing
horror and repugnance; frightful
and shocking
uncomprehendingly
Not understanding; having little
or no comprehension.
distorted
 To
twist out of a proper or natural relation
of parts
guttural
Having a harsh grating quality,
as certain sounds produced in
the back of the mouth
steerage

The section of a passenger ship, originally
near the rudder, providing the cheapest
passenger accommodations.
compensation
 Something,
such as money, given or
received as payment or reparation, as for
a service or loss.
Devil’s Arithmetic
Chapters 3-4 vocabulary
droned
O To speak in a dull monotonous tone.
injustice
O an unjust act or occurrence.
O lack of fairness or justice.
rousing
O exciting; stirring.
cascades
O Something that falls in stages down a steep
slope.
exodus
O a mass departure of people: exit
mortified
O Embarrassed or humiliated.
cloying
O satisfying
conspiratorial
O Secretly plotting
Furrow
A narrow trench in the earth
companionable
Friendly: agreeable
Sloven
Unclean person
timidity
shyness
Chapter 7-8
vigor
energy
compression
reduction
dour
gloomy
appalled
shocked
Involuntary
Not by choice
mesmerized
Captivated;
hypnotized
jostling
Bouncing; bumping
lucid
Clear-headed
Chapters 9-10 Vocabulary
undistinguishable

 unable to be recognized
adamant

not willing to change an opinion or
decision : very determined
decreed

 an official order
given by a
government
billet

 to house or position soldiers
desecrated

 to ruin or violate
crematoria

 a furnace used for the cremation of bodies
periphery

edge; fringe
tremulous

 shaking or quivering slightly.
alienates

 Causes someone to feel isolated; distances
oneself from someone
impudent

 arrogant; showing no respect
DEVIL’S ARITHMETIC
CHAPTERS 11-12
VEHEMENCE
• the display of strong feeling; passion.
VULNERABLE
• susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.
DISCERNIBLE
• able to be discerned; recognized
GARISH
• obtrusively bright and showy; lurid.
AFFIRMATION
the action or process of affirming
something or being affirmed.
INGRATE
• an ungrateful person.
OMINOUS
giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen;
threatening; inauspicious.
DISSIPATING
• with reference to a feeling or other intangible thing) disappear or cause to
disappear.
Devil’s Arithmetic
chapters 13-14
arbitrary
 based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any
reason or system.
elusive
 difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
drone
 make a continuous low humming sound.

raucous
 making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise.
sanctuary
 a place of refuge or safety.