Heart of Darkness Vocab Part 1

luminous

glowing; full of light

ascetic

practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal or spiritual discipline

venerable

sacred or highly respected

diaphanous

a light, translucent fabric

august

marked by majestic dignity

inscrutable

not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood

propensity

an intense preference or natural inclination

spectral

ghostly

immutability

permanence; unable to be changed

ominous

unfavorable or threatening

scrutinize

to look at critically

sententiously

morally lecturing in a pompous manner

emissary

someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of another

enigma

mystery; puzzle; riddle

insipid

w/o any taste or spirit of interest

sordid

morally degraded

lugubrious

exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful

drollery

whimsical humor

morose

having a gloomy disposition

declivity

a downward slope or bend

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness; punctuality

rapacious

excessively covetous or greedy

obliquely

indirectly; at a sloping angle

effaced

made inconspicuous or insignificant; erased

moribund

in a state of dying or at the point of dying

pestilence

contagion; infection

demoralization

corruption or to make someone lose spirit or hope

trenchant

vigorously effective; sharpened; biting

deplorable

deserving contempt or strong condemnation

indefatigable

unable to become tired; doesn’t wear out

gesticulating

expressing emotion thru movement

epoch

a time period or fixed point

ostentation

a showy display

beguiled

bewitched; wasted (when used with “time”)

prevaricator

liar, equivocator