scarlett letter vocab

venerable

respectable due to age

progenitor

a direct ancestor; an originator of a line of descent

nonentity

a person or thing of little importance

voluminous

of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length

tempestuous

strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion

evanescent

vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

besom

a broom made of twigs tied around a stick

indolent

much lazy; idle

polemical

controversial; argumentative; debatable

emoluments

salaries; advantages; payments

esoteric

intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret

sepulcher

a tomb, grave, or burial place

heterodox

not widely accepted or agreed upon

deportment

a person's behavior or manners

iniquity

immoral, wicked, or grossly unfair behavior

Utopia

an ideal society

infamy

evil fame or reputation

countenance

facial expression

tremulous

shaking or quivering slightly

edifice

large building

autumnal

having features that are characteristic of autumn or on decline

phantasmagoric

having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination

physiognomy

facial features

ignominy

public shame, disgrace, or dishonor

visage

face; facial expression

sagamores

subordinate chiefs of the Algonquin Indians

ascetic

practicing self-denial

contumacious

disobedient, rebellious

peremptory

not allowing refusal or delay

penitence

sorrow / remorse for past conduct

amenable

agreeable

paramour

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

reviled

to attack with abusive language; to call insulting names

caprice

a sudden impulse, whim, or unmotivated change of mind

vivify

enliven or animate

exhortation

a communication intended to urge or persuade someone to take some action

anathema

an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation

ludicrous

ridiculous, laughable, absurd

cabalistic

having a mystical secret or hidden meaning

expatiating

speak or write at length or in detail

importunate

extremely demanding; insistent

intrinsic

belonging naturally; essential

leech

physician; doctor

mountebank

a trickster or swindler; a charlatan

sagacity

wisdom

imperious

arrogantly domineering or overbearing

panoply

splendid, wide-ranging, impressive display or array

vindicate

to free from blame

diabolical

devilish; wicked or evil

dauntless

showing fearlessness and determination

eldritch

weird; eerie; sinister; ghostly

chirurgical

relating to surgery

askance

with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval

vestment

clothing worn to symbolize religious or political authority

impalpable

unable to be felt by touch

decorous

proper; tasteful; socially correct

eccentricities

oddities or peculiarities in conduct

etherealized

made part of the spiritual world; heavenly light

somnambulism

sleepwalking

impute

to attribute/credit to someone

palliate

to ease; to lessen; to soothe

imbued

inspire or saturate with a feeling or quality

inextricable

impossible to disentangle or separate

malevolence

ill will or evil intentions

somniferous

bringing sleep

infirmity

physical or mental weakness

expiation

the act of repenting for sin or wrongdoing

erudite

learned; scholarly

prolix

tedious, long-winded and wordy; tending to speak or write in such a way

vicissitude

a change or variation; ups and downs

augured

to predict, especially from signs or omens; foretell

efficacy

effiency for a desired result

preternatural

beyond what is normal or natural

inauspicious

unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

imbibed

to take in, to absorb, by drinking

plebeian

common, vulgar; belonging to the lower class

abased

lowered in rank; humbled; humiliated

speculation

the practice of making high-risk investments with borrowed money in hopes of getting a big return

retribution

a repayment; a deserved punishment

petulant

irritable or short-tempered

pristine

fresh and clean; uncorrupted

stigmatized

identified with disgrace

sedulous

hard working; diligent; determination

asperity

roughness or harshness; severity

despots

a ruler with absolute power and authority

obviated

to anticipate and prevent or eliminate

deleterious

causing harm or damage; harmful

propensity

a natural inclination or tendency or urge

acquiescing

to agree or comply quietly without protest

nuptial

relating to marriage or weddings

scrofula

a form of tuberculosis; a disease in the lungs

contiguity

closeness or nearness in time; close in time

denizens

inhabitants or occupants

loquacity

the quality of being wordy and talkative

malignity

Intense ill will; a strong desire to inflict harm; intense hatred

choleric

easily angered; bad tempered

atheist

a person who believes there is no god

trammeled

confined; restrained; deprived of freedom

Pentecost

50 days after easter which is the birthday of the Church

subjugated

brought under control; conquered