frankenstein vocab

Repugnance

A feeling of strong disgust; Victor feels this when he sees the Creature come to life

Fastidious

Very picky and detail-oriented; Victor is extremely careful and obsessive in his experiments

Sepulcher

A tomb or burial place; Victor gathers body parts from graves and burial sites

Predilection

A strong preference for something; Victor has a predilection for science and natural philosophy

Diffident

Shy and lacking confidence; Elizabeth is gentle and modest in personality

Salubrious

Healthy or health-giving; the mountain air and nature sometimes improve Victor’s health

Infidel

Someone who does not share a religion or beliefs; the Creature is treated like an outsider by society

Dauntless

Fearless and brave; the Creature keeps approaching humans despite rejection

Elixir

A magical or medicinal drink that gives life; Victor searches for the “elixir of life”

Reverential

Showing deep respect; Walton speaks about Victor with admiration and respect

Apparition

A ghostlike figure or sudden appearance; the Creature often appears suddenly to Victor

Ardent

Passionate and intense; Victor is ardent in his pursuit of scientific discovery

Tyro

A beginner or novice; Victor is a tyro when he first begins university studies

Chimera

An unrealistic dream or fantasy; Victor’s dream of defeating death is a chimera

Ameliorate

To make something better; the Creature hopes a companion will ameliorate his loneliness

Poignant

Deeply emotional or touching; the Creature’s story of abandonment is poignant

Conjecture

A guess based on limited evidence; Victor conjectures the Creature killed William

Fastidious

Extremely attentive to detail; Victor’s careful laboratory work shows this trait

Harrowing

Very distressing or traumatic; Justine’s trial and death are harrowing events

Cultivated

Educated, refined, and cultured; the De Lacey family is cultivated and values learning and music