Prologue Flashcards
Misbegotten
Badly designed or planned
Contemptible.
Aaron Burr’s misbegotten plan to discredit Alexander Hamilton.
Benign
Gentle, kindly.
Was it a benign or a cruel destiny that had compelled the widow to outlive her husband.
Purblind
Unable to see well
dim witted
Purblind and deaf, she was still gallant to the end.
Tenacity
Being very determined.
Her Dutch tenacity helped her to deal with her extraordinary misfortunes.
Bespoke
Be evidence of.
Her simple dress bespoke a simpler time.
Defamatory
Damaging the good reputation of someone.
John Adams took full advantage of his long life to spread defamatory remarks about Alexander.
Pantheon
A group of particularly respected people.
Elizabeth wrote an autobiography securing her husbands niche in the Pantheon of the early republic.
Agrarian
relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.
“Brazil is rapidly diversifying its agrarian economy”
For Jefferson, who wanted to make an agrarian Eden, Hamilton was like the devil.
Machiavellian
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics.
“a whole range of outrageous Machiavellian manoeuvres”
They demonized him making him to be a Machiavellian intriguer.
Lament
1.
a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
“his mother’s night-long laments for his father”
synonyms: wail, wailing, lamentation, moan, moaning, groan, weeping, crying, sob, sobbing, keening, howl, complaint; More
Many have lamented that justice has not been done to Hamilton.
Posterity
For all future generations of people.
“the victims’ names are recorded for posterity”
synonyms: future generations, succeeding generations, those who come after us; the future
“the names of those who died are recorded for posterity on a framed scroll”
Lord Bryce singled out Hamilton as the one founding father who had not received his due from posterity.
Abstractions
“topics will vary in degrees of abstraction”
something which exists only as an idea.
plural noun: abstractions
“the question can no longer be treated as an academic abstraction”
Hamilton turned abstractions into institutional realities.
Tumultuous
making an uproar or loud, confused noise.
“tumultuous applause”
Hamilton’s life was so tumultuous that only a very bold author could have imagined it.
Panache
flamboyant confidence of style or manner.
“he entertained London society with great panache”
Promiscuous
demonstrating or implying an unselective approach; indiscriminate or casual.
“the city fathers were promiscuous with their honours”
