Scarlet Letter Vocabulary Flashcards
Old Manse
A manse is a clergy house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of Presbyterian, Methodist, United church and other traditions. The Old Manse is a historic manse in Concord, Massachusetts famous for its American historical and literary associations. The Old Manse was built in 1770 for Rev. William Emerson, father of minister Rev. William Emerson and grandfather of transcendentalist writer and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Nathaniel Hawthorne rented the Old Manse for $100 a year. He moved in with his wife, transcendentalist Sophia Peabody, on July 9, 1842, as newlyweds.
decorous
in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained.
benumb
deprive of physical or emotional feeling.
apprehensive
anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
prate
talk foolishly or tediously about something.
propriety
the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.
prolix
(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
Old King Derby
Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799) was a powerful shipping magnate who dominated Salem’s commercial life during the post-Revolutionary period. Having inherited his father’s fortune and maritime business, Derby rose to become the biggest privateer owner in Salem during the Revolutionary War. In the years that followed, he expanded Richard Derby’s trading empire to the cover the entire globe, becoming the first American to establish trade links with the Baltic and Asia. The nickname ‘King Derby’ comes from the fact that he is known as America’s first millionaire, although there are several other contenders for this title.
schooner
a type of sailing vessel with fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts.
dilapidated
(of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.
languid
- (of a person, manner, or gesture) displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.
- weak or faint from illness or fatigue.
edifice
a building, especially a large, imposing one.
infirmity
physical or mental weakness.
truculent
eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
vixen
- a shrewish ill-tempered woman.
- a female fox.
- a sexually attractive woman.
imperceptible
impossible to perceive, unnoticeable
incommodity
The state or quality of being inconvenient: discomfort, incommodiousness, inconvenience, trouble. 2. Something that causes difficulty, trouble, or lack of ease: discomfort, inconvenience.
tarpaulin
heavy-duty waterproof cloth, originally of tarred canvas.
venerable
accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.
almshouse
a house built originally by a charitable person or organization for poor people to live in.
slovenly
untidy, especially in personal appearance.
grandeur
splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style.
progenitor
a person or thing from which a person, animal, or plant is descended or originates; an ancestor or parent.
conspicuous
standing out so as to be clearly visible.
laudable
(of an action, idea, or goal) deserving praise and commendation.
gale
a very strong wind.
sagacity / sagacious
(the quality of) having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd.
unerring
always right or accurate.
infernal
of, relating to, or characteristic of hell or the underworld.
visage
a person’s face, with reference to the form or proportions of the features/a person’s facial expression
emissary
a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative.
sexton
a person who looks after a church and churchyard, sometimes acting as bell-ringer and formerly as a gravedigger.
inimical
tending to obstruct or harm/unfriendly and hostile
perforce
used to express necessity or inevitability.
avail
use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource).
solace
comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.
importunate
persistent, especially to the point of annoyance or intrusion.
iniquity
immoral or grossly unfair behavior.
perverse
(of a person or their actions) showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences/contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice.
imp
a mischievous child.
hillock
a small hill or mound.
emaciated
abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.
palliate
make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause/allay or moderate (fears or suspicions)/disguise the seriousness or gravity of (an offense)
somniferous
tending to induce sleep; soporific.
comport
conduct oneself; behave.
latent
(of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden; concealed.
balk
hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
gait
a person’s manner of walking.
odious
extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
antipathy
a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion.
abhorrence
a feeling of repulsion; disgusted loathing.
preternatural
beyond what is normal or natural.
anstruse
difficult to understand; obscure.
efficacious
(typically of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective.
veneration
great respect; reverence.
pulpit
a raised platform or lectern in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon.
avowal
an affirmation of the truth of what you believe, an honest admission/a way of owning up to or declaring something.
veriest
used to emphasize the degree to which a description applies to someone or something.
somnambulism
sleepwalking.
pall
a dark cloud or covering of smoke, dust, or similar matter/a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb.
zenith
the highest point reached by a celestial or other object.
