British Literature Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards for British Literature Final Study Guide, Chapters 9-11

Abate

To decrease, reduce

Anathema

An object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation

Avarice

A greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Culpable

Deserving blame or censure; responsible for wrongdoing

Egregious

Outstandingly bad; shocking

Evanescent

Vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Pretentious

Done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably

Slovenly

Untidy, dirty, careless

Annotation

A critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work

Bedlam

A place or scene of uproar and confusion

Covert

Hidden, disguised, purposefully kept secret; sheltered

Debonair

Pleasant, courteous, lighthearted in manner; smooth and polished

Efficacious

Effective, producing results

Gist

The essential point, main idea

Motley

Showing great variety; composed of different elements or many colors

Recondite

Exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

Corroborate

To confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify

Denizen

An inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place

Disseminate

To scatter or spread widely

Florid

Highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, showy

Heresy

An opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is held sacred

Inculcate

To impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly

Palpable

Capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized

Pernicious

Extremely harmful or destructive; deadly, fatal

Satiate

To satisfy completely; to fill to excess