Scarlet Letter Quiz (ch. 1-16)

Beadle

A minor official

contumely

insolent or insulting language or treatment

Ignominy

public shame or disgrace

Inauspicious

(adj.) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

Mien

a person's look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood

Physiognomies

the facial features held to show qualities of mind or character by their configuration or expression

pillary

attack or ridicule publicly

Remonstrance

protest; objection

Sagacity

acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgment

Vie

to compete

anathemas

curses; denunciations; bad wishes

draught

a current of air (usually coming into a room or vehicle)

efficacy

the power to produce a desired result

expostulation

earnest and kindly protest

gesticulation

a gesture, especially a dramatic one, used instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words.

paramour

a lover, often secret, not allowed by law or custom

phantasmagoric

a scene that constantly changes

quaff

to drink in large quantities; to gulp

sable

a very dark black

uncongenial

not friendly or pleasant to be with

cabalistic

having a secret or hidden meaning

chirurgical

relating to surgery

contagion

the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact

deportment

a person's behavior or manners

Despondent

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage

Emanciated

extremely thin; wasted away

erudition

the quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship

imperious

arrogantly domineering or overbearing

leech

Blood sucking worm

pestilence

A rapidly spreading and usually fatal disease

demerits

punishments for wrongdoing

ethereal

extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world

expiation

the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement

inextricable

hopelessly tangled or entangled

Inimical

unfriendly, hostile

ominous

threatening

portent

a sign or forewarning

scurrilous

vulgar, coarse

somnambulism

the condition of walking or performing some other activity without awakening; also known as sleepwalking

Zenith

the highest point; peak

asperity

harshness of tone or manner

Auserity

sternness

despotic

exercising absolute power; tyrannical

effluence

the process of flowing out

enigma

a puzzle; a mystery

gibe

to utter taunting words

innate

inborn; natural

petulant

easily irritated or annoyed

proffered

to put before a person for acceptance; offer

requital

something given in return

colloquy

talking together; conference; conversation

Consecration

dedication to the service or worship of a god

denizen

an occupant; inhabitant

Dryad

a deity or nymph of the woods

harrowed

disturbed, distressed