Scarlet Letter Vocab (Dagen)

depravity

wickedness, lack of morality

impunity

exemption from punishment

vitiate

to corrupt morally; to marr

palliate

to reduce the severity of

enmity

hatred

capricious

given to sudden, unexpected changes in behaviour; mercurial

exigency

urgency; pressing need; an emergency

ascetic

characterized by severe self discipline and lack of luxury; abstinence

misanthrope

a person who dislikes others, a downer

precocious

(adj.) showing unusually early development (especially in talents and mental capacity)

indefatigable

tenacious, untiring

tome

heavy text; usually an old, big book (ex: Bible)

prolific

very productive

inextricable

impossible to disentangle or separate

esoteric

intended for or understood by only a small group

inviolable

sacred; of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profaned

propinquity

the state of being close to someone or something

alacrity

eagerness; cheerful readiness

austerity

severe sternness and simplicity

dissemble

to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression

inclement

stormy, harsh (attitude or weather)

predilection

a bias in favor of something

wan

pale

malefactress

a women who partakes in evil/violates the law

expiation

atonement; reparation

edifice

building (usually a big/important-looking one)

ignominy

public shame/disgrace

erudite

having/showing lots of knowledge; scholarly

deleterious

causing harm or damage

replete

full; abundant

superfluous

unnecessarily extra

iniquity

wickedness

lurid

graphic about something unpleasant, ex: a crime

dearth

a lack, scarcity

sedulous

hardworking, diligent, persistent

propensity

a natural inclination or tendency

affinity

a natural liking to someone or something

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure

antipathy

deep dislike

loquacity

the quality of being very wordy and talkative

effervescent

bubbly

beguile

trick someone into doing something (usually with charm)

zenith

the highest point