Scarlet Letter Ch. 1-8 Vocab Flashcards
beetle-browed
frowning; scowling
[used to describe the upper floor of the jail, which jutted out over the lower floor]
ponderous
very heavy, massive
pertains
concerns; has to do with
edifice
building, especially an important one
Ann (or Anne) Hutchinson
American religious leader
inauspicious
not favorable; unlucky
physiognomies
facial features (especially as in clues to character)
indubitably
unquestionably
Antinomian
A member of a Christian sect whose believers hold that faith alone, not obedience to the moral law, is necessary for salvation
heterodox
departing from the usual beliefs; unorthodox
venerable
impressive because of age or historic or religious associations
farthingale
a hoop skirt
purport
meaning; intention
behoof
interest; benefit
gossips
good friends; people who repeat rumors about the private affairs of others
trow
to believe; to think
brave
bold; courageous; defiant
town beadle
a minor official of the court
sumptuary
intended to regulate extravagance on religious or moral grounds
iniquity
wickedness; an unjust or unrighteous act
ignominous
shameful; humiliating
haughty
proud in a scornful way; arrogant
perchance
possibly
rankles
causes anger or resentment
serene
calm; peaceful
pillory
a device in which a prisoner is locked and exposed to public humiliation
gripe
a hold; a grip
Papist
a Roman Catholic (often a derogatory term)
personages
people of importance or distinction
inferred
drawn as a conclusion
contumely
insulting rudeness; scorn
disdainful
proudly aloof; scornful
preturnaturally
beyond what is normally found in nature; supernaturally
phantasmagoric
of a rapidly changing series of images
remonstrance
an objection; a complaint
cloister
a monastery or convent
visage
face; facial features
manifest
evident; obvious
heterogeneous
of different origins; not of the same kind
intervolutions
twistings together
imperceptible
not easily noticeable
wherefore
why; for what reason
methinks
it seems to me
agone
ago
marry
exclamation for emphasis
misguidance
poor judgement leading to misconduct
conceive
to understand
peradventure
possibly; perhaps
behooves
is necessary for; is appropriate for
sagacity
wisdom; sound judgemenr
eminent
distinguished; high in rank or position
mien
a person’s manner or way of carrying himself/herself
withal
besides; in addition
tremulous
trembling; quivering
effectual
likely to produce a desired result
insensibility
unawareness; indifference
pervaded
spread throughout
type
a perfect example
sagamores
chiefs; tribal leaders
pirthee
please
amenable
responsive; cooperative
demeanor
outward behavior
intimated
hinted at
peremptory
absolute; undeniable; final
simples
medicinal herbs
repelled
refused to accept
misbegotten
of wrongful origin
efficacy
effectiveness
leech
a physician
Lethe nor Nepenthe
according to an ancient Greek myth, drinking water of Lethe, a river in Hades, induced forget fullness. Nepenthe was a drug supposed by the ancient Greeks to cause forgetfulness of sorrow
requital
something given in return
Paracelsus
Swiss physician and alchemist (1493-1541)
expostulation
strong objection
bale-fire
bonfire; beacon fire
feigned
pretended
interpret
to reveal or explain the meaning of
ligaments
ties; bonds
wottest
know
lurid
vivid in a shocking way; sensational
annihilate
to destroy completely
vivify
to give life to; animate
inscrutable
mysterious; not easily understood
fain
gladly
inquisitorial
harshly prying or questioning
repungnance
extreme distaste
exhortation
an earnest warning; a strong urging
contumaciously
disobediently
talisman
an object with magic power; a charm
apprehension
anxious feeling about the future
mutability
changeability
prolific of
likely to bring forth
caprice
whim; sudden change of mind
inexplicable
that which cannot be explained or understood
perverse
different from what is considered right; contrary
malicious
spiteful; intentionally harmful
intangibility
without physical substance
constrained
forced
evoked
called forth
inviolable
sacred; not to be injured
anathemas
strong curses; condemnations
reviled
used abusive language toward
gesticulation
energetic gesturing
freak
an odd or unexpected idea; a whim
labrynth
a maze
impelled
drove; forced; compelled
cabalistic
Secret; mysterious; having to do with a mystical interpretation of scriptures developed in the middle ages
imperatively
in a demanding way
bond-servants
persons who serve a master without pay; usually in return for passage or other consideration
ruffs
high, stiff collars worn by both men and women in the 16th and 17th centuries
panopoly
a complete suit of armor
Pequod (Pequot) war
the war that took place between the Pequots (an Algonquian people who controlled eastern Connecticut) and the British
Bacon, Coke, Noye, and Finch
famous british legal experts
eldritch
weird; eerie
endue
to put on; to dress in
expatiating
explaining in great detail
charger
a plate or platter
behest
bidding; command
reproof
disapproval; censure
transgressions
sins; acts that are against the law
Lord of Misrule
Master of revels in medieval Christmas celebration, often assisted by young pranksters
bedizen
to dress or decorate in s showy way
albeit
even though
warily
cautiosly
nurture
training; upbringing
imbibes
drinks in; absorbs
indefeasible
cannot be taken away
mountebank
one who entertains with jokes or tricks
adduced
stated as reasons
tithing-men
church officials who collected money to support the church and generally saw to the observance of community rules
unobtrusive
inconspicuous; modest
averred
declared to be true