the scarlet letter - part 1 vocab

decorous

marked by decency and good taste

truculency

aggressively self-assertive

progenitor

an ancestor in the direct line

venerable

calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments

laudable

worthy of praise

tempestuous

resembling a "tempest" : turbulent, stormy. characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion

epoch

an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development.

expatiate

to move freely or at will

impunity

exemption or freedom from punishment, har, or loss

dearth

a scarcity or lack of something

evanescent

tending to vanish like vapor. fading or disappearing

filial

of or due from a son or daughter. "filial affection"

predilection

an established preference for something

appellation

an identifying name or title

inauspicious

not conducive to success; unpromising.

physiognomy

a person's facial features or expression - judging from ones facial expression

augur

portend (foreshadow/fortell) a good or bad outcome

purport

to appear or claim to be doing something - especially falsely (something implied or inferred)

ignominy

disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action.

mien

a person's look or manner especially one indicating their character or mood

abate

to decrease in force or intensity

quell

subdue or silence someone / put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.

peremptory

(especially of a person's manner or actions) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way.

efficacy

the ability to produce a desired or intended result.

superfluous

exceeding what is sufficient or necessary

repugnance

intense disgust. the quality or fact of being contradictory or inconsistent

succor

help in a difficult situation / something that furnishes relief

talisman

an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune

inscrutable

impossible to understand or interpret.

caprice

a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior/ seemingly unmotivated action

phantasmagoric

a sequence of real or imaginary images like those seen in a dream.

pristine

not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted/belonging to the earliest period or state

tome

a large and scholarly book

adduce

to offer as example, reason, or proof to advance in discussion or analysis

leech

a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain

sagacity

having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd/ of keen and farsighted penetration and judgement

vilify

speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner ex) "he has been vilified in the press"

ominous

foreboding or foreshadowing evil

inimical

tending to obstruct or harm/ unfriendly; hostile/ being adverse often by reason of hostility or malevolance

somniferous

tending to induce sleep; soporific.