Vocab

lachrymose

tearful, weepy, tending to cause crying

febrile

nervous excitement, frantic activity and agitation

vacillate

to waver indecisively between competing options

sardonic

grimly mocking, cynically contemptuous

pinched

having a thin, haggard look from cold, hunger, or worry

inured

to become accustomed to something unpleasant to the point that it no longer negatively affects you

circumspect

very cautious of possible consequences of a thing before acting

invective

harsh, abusive, or insulting language

insouciance

lighthearted unconcern; nonchalance

dramatis personae

“character of the drama”, the characters of a play, story, etc.

contrived

something that seems forced and planned and inauthentic, rather than coming from natural spontaneity

bête noire

“black beast”, an intensely dislike thing that acts as the bane of one’s existence

provenance

origin of something, especially an item or historical document

apostolic

of the teachings, authority, and mission of the early Christian apostles

rejoined

a quick, sharp reply

callow

young person lacking maturity and experience

hateur

arrogant, proud, unfriendly manner; an obnoxious display of superiority of others

alms

things given to the poor out of charity, especially money, food, etc.

temporize

delaying action or avoiding decision to strategically gain time or advantage

insuperable

an impossible-to-overcome problem or barrier

classicist

one who studies the ancient Greek and Roman cultures, literature, and language

dissociated

separated, disconnected, no longer tied to something

urbane

being polite, refined, elegant, and in confident ease in social situations

nacreous

having a pearly, iridescent quality like that of nacre, i.e. mother-of-pearl

impalpable

something that cannot be easily touched, or a thing that cannot be easily grasped by the mind

superlative

the highest (or lowest) degree in the quality of something

celerity

swiftness, speed, rapid action

abrograte

to formally renege on a law, agreement, or a custom

eschatology

theology related to the end of the world, death, and the final destiny of mankind

funereal

dark, gloomy, or mournful, like a funeral

perfidy

treachery; lying unscrupulousness; a deliberate breach of trust

apprise

to inform, tell, or make someone aware of something

sough

a soft rustling or murmuring sound

perspicacious

having the ability to understand difficult or secret things quickly

hollow (nature)

a small, sheltered valley between hills

fief

land or income granted from a feudal lord to a vassal in exchange or loyalty or service of some kind

sacerdotal

relating to priests or sacred rites

renascent

rising again back into life or being

vicar

a representative acting on behalf of a higher-ranking ecclesiastical authority

regalian

relating to a royal ruler and his or her sovereignty

aplomb

confidance, poise, and composure in difficult situations

surly

brooding, angry demeanor; a forbidding or disagreeable mood

hale

healthy, strong, and full of life

rubicund

a red, flushed complexion of the face

rack and ruin

complete decay and destruction

wainscoting

decorative and protective wood on the lower part of an interior wall

appanage

the rightful attribute or thing belonging to a person, title, rank, or job

arrogate

to claim or take something without having the proper right or privilege

peripatetic

working from place to place rather than staying in one fixed location

peremptory

expressed in a way that is abrupt, dictatorial, and expecting immediate and unquestioned obedience.

declaim

to speak loudly, passionately, and with a theatrical bent

celebrant

a person who leads or performs an official ceremony

homily

a religious speech given during a sermon to give guidance, moral support, explain scripture, etc.

remonstrance

action, words, or an official document made in strong opposition to something

tracery

a fine, delicate, interlacing pattern

miry

a muddy, boggy surface

perforce

by force of circumstances; necessarily

bray

the harsh sound a donkey makes

compunction

guilt, regret, or moral hesitation that stops one from doing something, or that makes you feel bad after doing it

repast

a formal word for a meal, used especially for the meal after a funeral

aspersion

a libel or slander meant to damage another’s reputation

avail

to be of use, value, or advantage

languid

lacking energy, spirit, or physical strength

sward

land covered with low-lying grass or vegetation; a prairie

transept

the cross-wise (trans-verse) portion of a cross-shaped church that lies at right angles to the main portion; forms the arms of the “cross”

flaxen

made of flax or colored like it (straw, straw blondish)

noisome

a very unpleasant foul smell

missive

a letter, note, or official correspondence

dunning

methodically contacting customers to collect overdue invoices

irresolute

being unable to decide or lacking firmness in decision-making

arabesque

an ornamental design of interweaving lines, such as can be seen in Arabic artworks and architecture

cordon

a line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards

vagaries

unexpected or unpredictable changes out of one’s control

timorous

showing fear, lack of confidence, etc.

myrmidon

a loyal follower who executes commands unquestioningly

trysting-place

a secret gathering spot, especially for lovers

tête-à-tête

a private, face-to-face conversation or showdown between two people

reprobation

severe disapproval and condemnation

dissicate

to remove all moisture; lacking all vitality or interest

bon mot

a clever, witty remark or a sharp, funny saying

perfidy

deceitfulness; untrustworthiness

doleful

acting, looking, or sounding sad

equable

stable and free from sudden changes or extremes

artless

free from deceit, cunning, or artificiality

acerbic

sharp and sarcastic in a direct and cruel sort of way

descry

to catch sight of something distant or hard to make out

stockade

a tall defensive barrier made of wooden posts driven into the ground

cynosure

a person or thing at the center of attention or admiration

corallary

a natural result or consequence that follows necessarily from some previous thing

putsch

a sudden, violent, and illegal attempt by a group to overthrow a government

shorn

past tense of shear

didactic

designed or intended to instruct

disputatious

given to heated arguments

repute

the general standing or reputation of something or someone

piquancy

a sharp, biting, or tart taste; something mentally excisting or provocative

nominal

true in name, but not in reality

littoral

coastline

extirpate

to destroy or remove something completely

fallow

agricultural land deliberately left unplanted for one or more seasons to help regenerate it

conurbation

a large, continuous urban area that forms when separate towns and cities grow into each other