Scarlet Letter Vocab Flashcards
edifice
(n.) a building, especially a large, imposing one
malefactress
(n.) a woman who violates the law or does evil
inclement
(adj.) (of the weather) unpleasantly cold or wet
alacrity
(n.) easy and speedy readiness
torpid
(adj.) mentally or physically inactive; lethargic
vitiate
(v.) to spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of
evanescent
(adj.) soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing
esoteric
(adj.) intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
impunity
(n.) exemption from punishment
dearth
(n.) a scarcity or lack of something
propensity
(n.) an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way
predilections
(n.) preferences or special likings for things; biases in favor of something
iniquity
(n.) sin, evil act
inauspicious
(adj.) not conducive to success; unpromising
ignominous
(adj.) deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
remonstrance
(n.) a forcefully reproachful protest
lurid
(adj.) very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect
amenable
(adj.) likely to cooperate; likely to accept accountability for behavior
requited
(v.) returned (a favor, service, or wrongdoing)
ascetic
(adj.) characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons
superfluous
(adj.) unnecessary, especially through being more than enough
penitence
(n.) the action of feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentance
piety
(n.) the quality of being religious or reverent
prolific
(adj.) causing abundant growth, generation
inviolable
(adj.) never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored
dissemble
(v.) conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs
enmity
(n.) extreme hatred, particularly between enemies
auspicious
(adj.) conducive to success; favorable
wan
(adj.) pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion
potentate
(n.) a monarch or ruler, especially an autocratic one
tome
(n.) a book, especially a large, heavy, scholarly one
exigencies
(n.) urgent needs or demands
depravity
(n.) a state of moral corruption; a morally corrupt act
affinity
(n.) an inclination towards or liking for someone or something, particularly because you identify with that person or thing
erudite
(adj.) having great knowledge gained from study or reading
palliate
(v.) make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause
antipathy
(n.) disgust or hostile anger toward a person or thing
abstruse
(adj.) difficult to comprehend
loquacity
(n.) the quality of talking a great deal; talkativeness
inextricable
(adj.) impossible to disentangle or separate
expiation
(n.) the act of making amends for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement
indefatigable
(adj.) (of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly
impute
(v.) represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; attribute
replete
(adj.) filled or well-supplied with something
austerity
(n.) extreme plainness, simplicity in appearance; sternness
obviate
(v.) remove (a need or difficulty)
propinquity
(n.) the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
sedulous
(adj.) (of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence
deleterious
(adj.) harmful, destructive, detrimental
capricious
(adj.) tending to make sudden and unpredictable changes
precocity
(n.) the quality of having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual
misanthrope
(n.) a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society
