Frankenstein Vocab

ardour

enthusiasm or passion

discrimination

recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another; the ability to discern what is of high quality; good judgement or taste

acquaintance

a person's knowledge or experience of something.

repulsive

arousing intense distaste or disgust

physiognomy (n)

a person's facial features or expression, especially when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin;the supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics; the general form or appearance of something.

dogmatism (n)

the tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others.

pedantry (n)

excessive concern with minor details and rules.

facile (adj)

(especially of a theory or argument) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial. (of success, especially in sports) easily achieved; effortless.

ardent (adj)

enthusiastic or passionate. burning; glowing

enticement (n)

something used to attract or tempt someone; a lure. the quality of being attractive or tempting

infallible (adj)

incapable of making mistakes or being wrong. never failing; always effective

attainment (n)

the action or fact of achieving a goal toward which one has worked. a thing achieved, especially a skill or educational achievement

procure (v)

obtain (something), especially with care or effort

protracted (adj)

lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual

endue (v)

endow or provide with a quality or ability

revolve (v)

treat as the most important point or element

animated (adj)

full of life or excitement; lively

receptacle (n)

an object or space used to contain something

rapture (n)

feeling of intense pleasure or joy

consummation (n)

the point at which something is complete or finalized

ineffectual (adj)

not producing any or the desired effect. (of a person) lacking the ability or qualities to cope with a role or situation

reserved (adj)

slow to reveal emotion or opinions

reception (n)

the action or process of receiving something sent, given, or inflicted. a formal social occasion held to welcome someone or to celebrate a particular event

inconceivable (adj)

not capable of being imagined or grasped mentally; unbelievable

exalted (adj)

(of a person or their rank or status) placed at a high or powerful level; held in high regard. in a state of extreme happiness.

incessantly (adv)

without interruption; constantly

Ex."… my operations might be incessantly baffled…" pg.32

unremitting (adj)

never relaxing or slackening; incessant

Ex. "These thoughts supported my spirits, while I pursued my undertaking with unremitting ardour." pg.32

emaciated (adj)

abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.

Ex. "My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement." pg.32

confinement (n)

actin of confining, or the state of being confined (keep or restrict someone or something with certain limits)

Ex. "My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement." pg.32

trance (n)

a half-conscious state characterized by an absence of response to external stimuli, typically as induced by hypnosis or entered by a medium.

Ex. "It was indeed but a passing trance…" pg.33

profane (adj)

relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious.

(of a person or their behavior) not respectful of orthodox religious practice; irreverent.

Ex. "I collected bones from charnel-houses and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame." pg.33

perpetual (adj)

never ending or changing.

occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted.

Ex. "…whilst, still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion." pg.33

disquiet (v)

make (someone) worried or anxious

Ex. "I knew my silence disquieted them…" pg.33

procrastinate (v)

delay or postpone action; put off doing something.

Ex. "I wished, as it were, to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection until the great object, which swallowed up every habit of my nature, should be completed" pg.33

ascribe (v)

attribute something to (a cause)

Ex. "I then thought that my father would be unjust if he ascribed my neglect to vice, or faultiness on my part…" pg.33

transitory (adj)

not permanent

Ex. "… and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility." pg.34

unwholesome (adj)

not characterized by or conducive to health or moral well-being.

Ex. "… and I appeared rather like one doomed by slavery to toil in the mines, or any other unwholesome trade than an artist occupied b his favourite employment." pg.34

incipient (adj)

in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop

"he could feel incipient anger building up"

(of a person) developing into a specified type or role.

"we seemed more like friends than incipient lovers"

Ex. "… and I believed that exercise and amusement would then drive away incipient disease…" pg.34

minutiae (n)

the small, precise, or trivial details of something

Ex. "I paused, examining and analysing all the minutiae of causation, as exemplified in the change from life to death, and death to life…" pg.30

delineate (v)

describe or portray (something) precisely.

figure out

Ex. "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?" pg.35

lassitude (n)

a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.

Ex. "At length lassitude succeeded to the tumult I had before endured; …" pg.35

languor (n)

-the state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness or inertia.

-an oppressive stillness of the air.

Ex. "… I nearly sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness." pg.36

livid (adj)

-furiously angry

"he was livid at being left out"

-dark bluish gray in color

"livid bruises"

incredulous (adj)

-(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.

(unbelievable)

spectre (n)

-ghost

Ex. "I threw the door forcibly open, as children are accustomed to do when they expect a spectre to stand in waiting for them on the other side…" pg.38

pertinacity (n)

-persistent + tenacity

Ex. "… but the pertinacity with which I continually recurred to the same subject, persuaded him that my disorder…" pg.39

convalescence (n)

-time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation.

Ex. "… and the season contributed greatly to my convalescence." pg.39

apprehension (n)

-anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

-understanding; grasp.

Ex. "… is necessary to calm our apprehensions." pg.40

odious (adj)

-extremely unpleasant; repulsive

Ex. "He looks upon study as an odious fetter…." pg.40

immutable (adj)

-unchanging over time or unable to be changed

Ex. "… and I think our placid home and our contented hearts are regulated by the same immutable laws." pg.40

perversity (n)

-a deliberate desire to behave in an unreasonable or unacceptable way; contrariness.

-the quality of being contrary to accepted standards or practice.

Ex. "… but, through a strange perversity, her mother could not endure her…" pg.41

prevail (v)

-prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious.

-be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current.

-persuade (someone) to do something.

Ex. "My aunt observed this, and when Justine was twelve years of age, prevailed on her mother to…" pg.41

vacillate (v)

-alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.

Ex. "The poor woman was very vacillating in her repentance." pg.42

disposition (n)

-a person's inherent qualities of mind and character.

"a sweet-natured girl of a placid disposition"

-the way in which something is placed or arranged, especially in relation to other things.

"the plan need not be accurate so long as it shows the disposition of the rooms"

Ex. "Although her disposition was gay, and in many respects inconsiderate, yet she paid the greatest attention to every endeavoured to imitate …" pg.41

phraseology (n)

-a mode of expression, especially one characteristic of a particular speaker or writer. (wording/ choice of wards)