Heart of Darkness Vocab Set 1

luminous

glowing, full of light

ascetic

practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal/spiritual discipline

venerable

sacred or highly respected

diaphanous

light, translucent (of a fabric)

august

marked by majestic dignity

inscrutable

not readily investigated, understood

propensity

an intense natural inclination or preference

spectral

ghostly

immutability

permanence; inability to be changed

ominous

unfavorable or threatening

scrutinize

to look at critically

sententiously

morally lecturing in a pompous manner

emissary

someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of another person

enigma

mystery, puzzle, riddle

insipid

without any spirit or interest

sordid

morally degraded

lugubrious

exaggeratedly mournful

drollery

whimsical humor

morose

having a gloomy disposition

decilivity

a downward slope/bend

alacrity

brisk + cheerful readiness; punctuality

rapacious

excessively covetous (jealous) or greedy

obliquely

indirectly; at a sloping angle

effaced

made insignificant; erased

moribund

in a state of dying or point of death

pestilence

contagion, infection

demoralization

corruption; to make someone lose spirit/hope

trenchant

vigorously effective; sharp-edged; biting

deplorable

deserving contempt or strong condemnation

indefatigable

never wears out/gets tired

gesticulating

expressing emotion through movement

epoch

a time period or fixed point

ostentation

a showy display

beguiled

bewitched; wasted (in context of time)

prevaricator

liar; equivocator