Scarlet Letter 2

inscrutable

difficult or impossible to understand

intangible

hard to pin down or identify

ascetic

practicing great self-denial

imbibe

receive into the mind and retain

callous

emotionally hardened

insidious

intended to entrap

contumacious

willfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient

aver

declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

dexterity

adroitness in using the hands

procure

get by special effort

despondency

feeling downcast and disheartened and hopeless

prolific

bearing in abundance especially offspring

caprice

a sudden desire

inexplicable

incapable of being explained or accounted for

anathema

a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication

adverse

contrary to your interests or welfare

imperious

having or showing arrogant superiority

dauntless

invulnerable to fear or intimidation

extant

still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost

cabalistic

having a secret or hidden meaning

burnish

polish and make shiny

panoply

a complete and impressive array

exigency

a sudden unforeseen crisis that requires immediate action

expatiate

add details to clarify an idea

depravity

moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles