Poe-Cab

Question 1

impunity
“I must not only punish, but punish with impunity”

Answer 1

n. freedom from punishment, harm, or loss

Question 2

redress
“A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser.”

Answer 2

v. to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible

Question 3

immolation
“My smile was at the thought of [Fortunato’s] immolation.”

Answer 3

n. the act of being killed or destroyed in sacrifice, especially by fire

Question 4

virtuoso
“[Concerning wine] few Italians [except Fortunato] have the true virtuoso spirit.”

Answer 4

n. one who excels in the technique of an art

Question 5

imposture
“[Concerning the fine arts, most Italians] practice imposture upon the British”

Answer 5

n. the act or practice of deceiving by means of an assumed character or name

Question 6

cask
“I have a [cask] of … Amontillado.”

Answer 6

n. a barrel-shaped vessel of staves, headings, and hoops usually for liquids

Question 7

motley
“During the supreme madness of the carnival season, [Fortunato] wore motley.”

Answer 7

n. characteristic dress (wool clothing of mixed colors) of the professional fool (UK between 14th and 17th centuries)

Question 8

ignoramus
“Luchesi is an ignoramus.”

Answer 8

n. an utterly ignorant person

Question 9

niter (or nitre)
“The vaults are encrusted with niter.”

Answer 9

potassium nitrate (used to make gunpowder; naturally occurring effluoresscence; toxic in high doses)

Question 10

niche
“[Fortunato] reached the extremity of the niche.”

Answer 10

n. a recess in a wall especially for a statue; a sheltered or private space that resembles a recess in a wall

Question 11

roquelaure
“I drew a roquelaure closely about my person.”

Answer 11

n. a knee-length cloak worn especially in the 18th and 19th centuries

Question 12

flambeaux
“I took from their sconces two flambeaux.”

Answer 12

n. a flaming torch

Question 13

catacombs
“[We stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.”

Answer 13

n. pl. subterranean cemetery of galleries with recesses for tombs

Question 14

rheum
“[Fortunato’s eyes were] two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.”

Answer 14

n. a watery discharge from the mucous membranes especially of the eyes or nose

Question 15

circumscribe
“The room … was backed by one of the circumscribing walls of granite.”

Answer 15

v. to draw a line around; to surround by or as if by a boundary

Question 16

gesticulation
“He … threw the bottle upward with a gesticulation I did not understand.”

Answer 16

n. the act of making motions of the limbs or body as a means of expression

Question 17

aperture
“I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within.”

Answer 17

n. an opening or open space

Question 18

promiscuous
“Bones … lay promiscuously upon the earth.”

Answer 18

adj. casual, irregular (with a weird sexual undertone? c1834)

Question 19

pestilence
“No pestilence had ever been so fatal…”

Answer 19

n. a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating (eg.
Bubonic Plague)

Question 20

profuse
“There were sharp pains … and then profuse bleeding …”

Answer 20

adj. pouring forth liberally

Question 21

sagacious
“Prince Prospero was … sagacious …”

Answer 21

adj. of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment; wise and perceptive

Question 22

dominions
“When [Prince Prospero’s] dominions were half depopulated…”

Answer 22

n. pl. lands over which ruler has complete and absolute ownership

Question 23

castellated
“These retired to the deep seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys.”

Answer 23

adj. having battlements like a castle

Question 24

courtier
“The courtiers, having entered, brought …”

Answer 24

n. one in attendance at a royal court; one who practices flattery

Question 25

massy "The courtiers ... brought massy hammers ..."

Answer 25

adj. consisting of a large mass and weight

Question 26

ingress "They resolved to leave neither ingress nor egress to the sudden impulses of despair..."

Answer 26

n. place or means of (coming in) entrance or access

Question 27

egress (see "ingress")

Answer 27

n. place or means of (going out) exit

Question 28

contagion "With such precautions the courtiers might bid defiance to contagion."

Answer 28

n. transmission of a disease by direct or indirect contact; disease-producing agent (such as a virus)

Question 29

voluptuous "It was a voluptuous scene, that masquerade."

Answer 29

adj. suggesting sensual pleasure by fullness and beauty of form

Question 30

casements "The second chamber was purple in its ornaments and tapestries, and here the panes were purple. The third was green throughout, and so were the casements."

Answer 30

n. a window sash that opens on hinges at the side

Question 31

shroud "The seventh apartment was closely shrouded in black velvet."

Answer 31

n. burial garment

Question 32

profusion " ... Amid the profusion of golden ornaments ... "

Answer 32

n. lavish expenditure

Question 33

brazier "...There stood ... a heavy tripod, bearing a brazier of fire ... "

Answer 33

n. a pan for holding burning coals

Question 34

countenance " ... produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered."

Answer 34

n. look or expression

Question 35

precinct " ... There were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all."

Answer 35

n. a part of a territory with definite bounds or functions often established for administrative purposes

Question 36

brazen "There came from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound..."

Answer 36

adj. made of brass; sounding harsh and loud like struck brass

Question 37

constrain "The musicians were constrained to pause, momentarily, in their performance..."

Answer 37

v. to force by imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation

Question 38

perforce "The waltzers perforce ceased their evolutions ..."

Answer 38

adv. by force of circumstances or of necessity

Question 39

revery "The aged and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused revery on meditation."

Answer 39

n. the state of being lost in thought

Question 40

pervade "A light laughter pervaded the assembly."

Answer 40

v. to become diffused throughout every part of

Question 41

embellishment "He has directed ... the movable embellishments of the seven chambers ... "

Answer 41

n. act of making beautiful with ornamentation

Question 42

piquancy "There were much glare and glitter and piquancy and phantasm ..."

Answer 42

n. quality of being engagingly provocative or stimulating

Question 43

phantasm (see "piquancy")

Answer 43

n. product of fantasy; delusive appearance; illusion; ghost

Question 44

arabesque "There were arabesque figures with unsuited limbs ..."

Answer 44

n./adj. an ornament or style that employs flower, foliage, or fruit and sometimes animal and figural outlines to produce an intricate pattern of interlaced lines; a posture (as in ballet)

Question 45

ruddy "There flows a ruddier light through the blood-colored panes ..."

Answer 45

adj. having a (healthy) reddish color

Question 46

peal "There comes from the near clock of ebony a muffled peal more solemnly emphatic than any which reaches their ears..."

Answer 46

n. a loud sound or succession of sounds (as of bells ringing)

Question 47

disapprobatoin "There arose a buzz, or murmur, expressive of disapprobation and surprise ..."

Answer 47

n. act of passing unfavorable judgment on

Question 48

gaunt "The figure was tall and gaunt ..."

Answer 48

adj. excessively thin and angular

Question 49

habiliments "The figure was shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave."

Answer 49

n. the dress/clothing characteristic of an occupation or occasion

Question 50

visage "The mask which concealed the visage was made so nearly to resemble the countenance of a stiffened corpse..."

Answer 50

n. the face, countenance, or appearance of a person or sometimes an animal

Question 51

vesture "His vesture was dabbled in blood"

Answer 51

n. a covering garment such as a robe

Question 52

spectral "When the eyes of Prince Prospero fell upon this spectral image ..."

Answer 52

adj. of or relating to a visible disembodied spirit (ghost)

Question 53

blasphemous "Who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery?"

Answer 53

adj. impiously irreverent; treating something sacred with abuse, irreverence, or contempt

Question 54

aloft "He bore aloft a drawn dagger ..."

Answer 54

adv. at or to a great height

Question 55

impetuous "He approached, in rapid impetuosity ..."

Answer 55

adj. marked by impulsive vehemence or passion

Question 56

prostrate "There was a sharp cry [, and he] fell prostrate in death ..."

Answer 56

adj. stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission; lying flat

Question 57

tenant "[The room was] untenanted by any tangible form."

Answer 57

v. to hold or occupy as a tenant; lease or rent a property or dwelling