Vocabulary for 'School of Fear': Definitions & Meanings

Vocabulary words associated with the "School of Fear" theme (book series by Gitty Daneshvari or general horror/fear lexicon):

Fear & Anxiety Terms

• Terrifying: Causing extreme fear.
• Eerie: Uncanny, unsettling, mysteriously frightening.
• Panic: Sudden overwhelming fear, often with autonomic arousal.
• Nightmare: Distressing dream; also, a terrifying experience.
• Chills: Shivering from fear (or fever).
• Goosebumps: Piloerection from fear/cold.
• Haunted: Inhabited by ghosts; preoccupied by distressing memories.
• Trembling: Involuntary shaking from fear.
• Claustrophobic: Fear of enclosed spaces.

Atmosphere & Foreshadowing

• Unpredictable: Not able to be foreseen.
• Omen: Sign of future misfortune.
• Whispering: Soft, secretive speech – creates tension.
• Shadows: Dark areas obscuring vision; metaphor for hidden threats.
• Creeping: Moving slowly/stealthily; insidious onset.
• Mysterious: Difficult to explain; unknown origin.

These words build suspense in horror literature and describe physiological/psychological fear responses.