Scarlet Letter Vocab 1-3

beadle

a minor church official who ushers or helps preserve order during services

contumely

insulting display of contempt in words or actions; a humiliating insult

ignominy

total loss of dignity; disgrace; shame

inauspicious

unfavorable; boding ill

mien

a person's general appearance or carriage; often indicates a person's mood or state of mind

physiognomies

faces; the outward appearance of things

pillory

a wooden framework with holes for securing the head and hands, designed to expose a criminal to public ridicule or abuse

remonstrance

an argument in protest of; complaint; objection

sagacity

wisdom, profound knowledge and insight to the world

vie

to compete; to struggle for dominance or control