Jane Eyre

Martin Vocab

lamentable

expressing grief

torpid

having lost motion or the power of exertion of feeling; lacking energy or vigor.

diffidence

the quality or state of being unassertive or bashful

visage

the face, countenance, or appearance of a person

antipathy

a strong feeling of dislike

pungent

sharply painful

trifle

to treat someone or something as unimportant

ignominy

deep personal humiliation and disgrace

consecration

to mark or declare sacred

captious

marked by an often ill natured inclination to stress faults

opprobrium

something that brings disgrace

consternation

amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion

tumult

a turbulent uprising

noxious

physically harmful or destructive

propensity

an often intense natural inclination or preference

sanguine

marked by eager hopefulness

interloper

one that intrudes in a place or sphere

abhor

to regard with extreme repugnance; to feel hatred or loathing for

artifice

false or insincere behavior

precocious

exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age

parley

to speak with another

cadence

the beat, time, or measure of rhythmical motion or activity

insuperable

incapable of being surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved

scapegoat

one that bears the blame for others

chastisement

the action, act, or the means of chastising

execration

the act of cursing or denouncing

homily

a sermon; lecture

aversion

a settled dislike

poltroon

a spiritless coward

capricious

governed or characterized by sudden irrational and unpredictable impulses or whims

cessation

a temporary or final ceasing (as of action)

refectory

a dining hall

redolent

exuding fragrance

animadversion

a critical and usually censorious remark

gloaming

twilight, dusk

assiduity

persistent personal attention

solace

to give comfort to in grief or misfortune

perfidious

of, relating to, or characterized by being faithless or disloyal

edification

an act or process of instructing

approbation

an act of approving formally and officially

mien

air or bearing especially as expressive of altitude or personality

fervid

marked by often extreme fervor; very hot

construe

to understand or explain the sense or intention of usually in a particular way

imbibe

to take in or take up; to receive into the mind and retain

ostensible

intended for display; being such in appearance

soporific

causing or tending to cause sleep

effaced

to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface

Exult

to be extremely joyful

vapid

lacking flavor, zest, intrest, animation, or spirit

neophyte

a new convert

conjecture

to arrive at by surmise or guesswork

affability

the quality or state of being pleasant or at ease while talking to others

gregarious

enjoying company of others; being social with others

salubrious

favorable to or promoting health or well being

sardonic

showing disrespect or scorn for someone or something

assuage

to lessen the intensity, put an end to something that is painful, create peace

lugubrious

exaggerated or affectedly mournful

confabulation

to talk informally; to hold a discussion

saturnine

cold and steady in mood; slow to act or change; of a gloomy or surly disposition

anathema

someone or something intensely disliked or loathed

sagacity

the quality or state of being able to understand difficult ideas and situations

supercilious

coolly and patronizingly haughty

physiognomy

art of discovering temperament and character from outward appearance

poignant

deeply affecting the feelings; designed to make an impression

propitious

tending to favor; being a good omen

extirpate

to destroy completely; to pull out by the root; to cut out by surgery

halcyon

characterize by hapiness, great success, and prospertity

insipid

lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge; lacking taste or savor

alacrity

promptness in response : cheerful readiness

inextricably

forming a maze or tangle from which it is impossible to get free; incapable of being disentangled or untied

fractious

tending to be troublesome

asperity

rescind

augment

to make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense

ascetic

practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline; austere in appearance, manner, or attitude

austere

countenance

fervent

exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling; very hot

languid

pallid

deficient in color; lacking sparkle or liveliness

paroxysm

a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms; a sudden violent emotion or action

Taciturn

temperamentally disinclined to talk

venerate

to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference; to honor (an icon, a relic, etc.) with a ritual act of devotion