Puritan Literature Vocab

arcane

known or understood by only a few; mysterious

bereft

deprived of

camaraderie

a spirit of trust and goodwill among people closely associated in an activity or endeavor

cogent

convincing or believable by virtue of forcible, clear, or incisive

derelict

left or deserted, as by the owner or guardian; abandoned

disingenuous

insincere, not genuine

elliptical

pertaining to or having the form of an ellipse

embezzle

to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care

emissary

a representative sent on a mission or errand

feral

wild, savage

foppish

resembling or befitting a fop; excessively refined and fastidious in taste and manner

grandiose

more complicated or elaborate than necessary

hierarchy

any system of persons or things ranked one above another

iconiclast

a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

implicit

implied though not plainly expressed

incremental

increasing gradually by regular degrees or additions

juxtapose

to place close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast

malinger

to pretend to be sick in order to avoid something

nonchalant

cool and unconcerned

perfunctory

performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial

pundit

a person who knows a lot about a particular subject and who often talks about it in public

sagacious

having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd

theocracy

a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God's or deity's laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities