Wuthering Heights Flashcards

Abject

(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.

Adroitly

in a clever or skillful way.

Alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness.

Appellation

an identifying name or title.

Audacity

being bold or having an arrogant disregard of normal restraints.

Avarice

extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

Belie

fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.

Chide

to speak out in angry or displeased rebuke.

Churlish

rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.

Copious

abundant in supply or quantity.

Destitute

without the basic necessities of life.

Diabolical

disgracefully bad or unpleasant.

Dilatory

tending or intended to cause delay.

Discern

perceive or recognize (something).

Discomfit

make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed.

Dissipation

wasteful spending or overindulgence in pleasures.

Dispel

make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear.

Dissent

disagreement with a prevailing opinion, policy, or decision.

Doleful

expressing sorrow; mournful.

Emulate

to strive to equal or excel.

Enigmatic

difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.

Equanimity

evenness of mind especially under stress.

Expedient

convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral.

Filial

of or due from a son or daughter.

Guffaw

a loud and boisterous laugh.

Impalpable

unable to be felt by touch.

Importune

harass (someone) persistently for or to do something.

Interdict

an authoritative prohibition; to prohibit or forbid.

Interloper

a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.

Laconic

using very few words.

Languid

displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort.

Malignant

having or showing a wish to do evil to others.

Misanthropist

a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.

Miscreants

a person who behaves badly or in a way that breaks the law.

Moroseness

the quality of being unhappy, annoyed, and unwilling to speak or smile.

Odious

extremely unpleasant; repulsive.

Obdurate

stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

Obscure

not discovered or known about; uncertain.

Obtrusive

noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way.

Paragon

a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality.

Pathos

a quality that evokes pity or sadness.

Peevish

easily irritated, especially by unimportant things.

Reproof

an expression of blame or disapproval.

Reprobate

an unprincipled or depraved person

Reproach

address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment.

Retaliate

make an attack or assault in return for a similar attack.

Rue

bitterly regret (something one has done or allowed to happen).

Sagacious

having keen mental discernment and good judgment; to be shrewd.

Sanguine

optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.

Scintillating

sparkling or shining brightly.

Sotto voce

in a quiet voice, as if not to be overheard.

Stagnate

cease developing; become inactive or dull.

Soliloquize

speak one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers.

Sundry

including many things of different kinds.

Surly

menacing or threatening in appearance.

Taciturn

reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

Tenure

the holding of an office.

Undulating

having a smoothly rising and falling form or outline.

Usurp

take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force.

Vanquish

to overcome in battle: subdue completely.

Vapid

lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit.

Vehemence

the display of strong feeling; passion.

Vindictive

having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

Virulence

the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.

Vociferate

shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently.