Catch-22

Catch-22 Glossary

4-F

The designation by the government for one who is unfit for military service due to a physical or mental problem.

Antihero

The main character of a story when such a characters flaws outweigh his virtues, such as if he lacks courage, idealism, or other "heroic" traits.

Atheism

The belief that God does not exist.

AWOL

Absent without leave.

Bureaucracy

Excessive hierarchy and regulation in a group that creates inefficiency.

C.I.D.

Criminal Investigation Department.

Calvinism

A Protestant sect known for its strict rules.

Catch-22

A phrase describing a paradoxical situation where a person feels trapped.

Chaplain

A clergyman who is connected to an organization, such as the armed services or a hospital.

Circular Reasoning

A faulty process of reasoning where the premise depends on the conclusion.

Conscientious Objector

One who refuses to fight in a war or serve in the military on moral grounds.

Dystopia

A vision of society where man is miserable or oppressed; the opposite of utopia.

Fatalist

One who believes in the philosophy that one's fate is inevitable and cannot be changed.

Flak

Antiaircraft fire that bursts midair, damaging or disrupting an aircraft.

G Man

An agent of the F.B.I.; a "government man."

Horse Chestnut

A large, shiny seed.

Hypochondriac

A preoccupation with one's health where an individual is constantly worried about becoming sick, sometimes even developing psychosomatic symptoms.

Impotence

Weakness or ineffectuality; medically, a man's inability to maintain an erection.

Insomnia

Sleeplessness; the inability to get enough sleep.

Jaundice

A sickness caused by bile buildup in the body due to a malfunctioning liver. Symptoms include yellowing skin and eyes.

Milk Run

An easy mission with little or no flak.

Misogyny

A tendency to denigrate or look down on women.

Paranoia

A neurosis characterized by feelings of persecution.

Prolix

Tediously verbose.

Semantic

Having to do with words or phrases and what they mean.

Semiotics

An analysis of communication systems such as language and syntax.

Syndicate

A group that cooperates to carry out a task or operation.