Short Story Vocab

bier

[beer / bir]

bier

a stand on which a corpse or a coffin containing a corpse is placed prior to burial

cabal

[kuh-bal / kəˈbɑl]

cabal

a conspiratorial group of plotters and intriguers. A secret scheme or plot

coquettish

[koh-ket-ish /ˌkoʊ.ˈkɛt.ɪʃ]

coquettish

(of a woman) characteristically flirtatious, especially in a teasing, lighthearted manner.

cuckold

[kuhk-uhld / ˈkək.əld]

cuckold

a man whose wife has committed adultery

deprecatory

[dep-ri-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee / ˈdɛp.rɪ.kəˌtɑr.i]

deprecatory

disapproving; expressing belittlement.

deputation

[dep-yuh-tey-shuhn / ˈdɛp.yəˌteɪ.ʃ(ə)n]

deputation

the act or state of being appointed or authorized as an agent or representative; a person or group appointed to represent another or others; delegation.

diffident

[dif-i-duhnt / ˈdɪf.ɪˌdənt]

diffident

Hesitant to assert oneself from a lack of self-confidence; timid.

dispensation

[dis-puhn-sey-shuhn, -pen- /ˌdɪs.pənˈseɪ.ʃ(ə)n, -pɛn-]

dispensation

an exemption or release from an obligation or rule, granted by or as if by an authority. An exemption from a church law, a vow, or other similar obligation granted in a particular case by an ecclesiastical authority.

dyspepsia

[dis-pep-shuh, -see-uh /ˌdɪsˈpɛp.ʃə, -si.yə]

dyspepsia

indigestion.

hangdog

[hang-dawg, -dog /ˈhaŋ.dɑg]

hangdog

Shamefaced or guilty. Downcast, intimidated. N. a sneaky or despicable person.

jalousie

[jal-uh-see / ˈjɑl.əˌsi]

jalousie

a blind or shutter having adjustable horizontal slats for regulating the passage of air and light.

livery

[liv-uh-ree / ˈlɪv.əˌri]

livery

The costume or insignia worn by the retainers of a feudal lord. A distinctive uniform worn by the male servants of a household, as by footmen. The boarding and care of horses for a fee.

macabre

[muh-kah-bruh, -kahb /məˈkɑ.brə, -ˈkɑb]

macabre

suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome. Comprising or including a representation of death.

parquet

[pahr-kay / pɑrˈkeɪ]

parquet

the part of the main floor of a theater between the orchestra pit and the parquet circle. A wooden floor, often using contrasting colors, worked into a pattern. Tr. V. To furnish a room with a floor of parquetry.

perpetuity

[pur-pi-too-i-tee /ˌpər.pɪˈtu.ɪ.ti]

perpetuity

the quality, state, or condition of being perpetual. Time without end; eternity.

petticoat

[pet-ee-koht /ˈpɛt.iˌkoʊt]

petticoat

a skirt, esp. a woman's slip or underskirt. Slang. A woman or a girl. Adj. of or by women (i.e., a _ government).

severance

[sev-er-uhns /ˈsɛv.ərˌəns]

severance

the act or process of dividing or separating into parts. Separation; partition.

svelte

[svelt /svɛlt]

svelte

slender or graceful in figure or outline; slim.

vermillion

[ver-mil-yuhn /vɛrˈmɪlˌyən]

vermillion

a bright red mercuric sulfide used as a pigment. A vivid red to reddish orange. Adj. Of a vivid red to reddish orange. Tr.V. to color or dye vermillion.

vestige

[ves-tij /ˈvɛs.tɪj]

vestige

a visible trace, evidence, or sign of something that has once existed but exists or appears no more.