Frankenstein Vocabulary: Letters 1 through Chapter 10

A comprehensive vocabulary review covering key terms and definitions from Letters 1 through Chapter 10 of Frankenstein.

Delineating

Describing or outlining with precision or detail

Expedient

Resource; method; a means to an end

Forebodings

Bad omens; strong inner feelings that something bad will happen

Satiate

Satisfy

Enticement

Temptation; something that leads one forward with desire or hope

Endowments

Characteristics; attributes of the mind or body

Solicitude

Attention; concern for someone or something

Countenance

Face; look or expression of the face

Melancholy

Sad; a gloomy state of mind

Internment

Burial; act or ceremony of burying

Recompensing

Reimbursing, to pay or give compensation for

Penury

Extreme poverty

Reverential

Respectful; feeling or exhibiting deep respect

Vehement

Intense; strongly or extremely emotional

Ignoble

Base; of a low character or quality

Chimerical

Imaginary; highly unrealistic

Tertiary

Third; of the third order, rank stage or formation

Ineffectual

Unsatisfying; without satisfaction

Prognosticated

Foretell or prophesizes an event in the future

Repose

Be lying, situated, or kept in a particular place

Repugnance

Intense disgust

Reprobated

Express or feel disapproval of

Recapitulation

Summarize and state again the main points of

Deference

Humble submission and respect

Dogmatism

The tendency to lay down principals as absolute truth, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others

Incipient

A person developing into a specified type or role

Languor

The state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness or inertia

Odious

Extremely unpleasant; repulsive

Mien

A person’s look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood

Placid

Calm and peaceful

Dirge

A mournful song or piece of music; usually done at a funeral.

Delerium

An acutely disturbed state of mind that occurs in fever, intoxication, and other disorders and is characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech.

Depravity

Moral corruption; wickedness

Candour

The quality of being open and honest in expression

Ignominious

Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame

Approbation

Approval or praise

Augmenting

Enlarging in size, number, strength, or extent

Base

Morally low; dishonorable

Efface

To wipe out or do away with

Abyss

Deep chasm or cavity

Epoch

A particular period of time marked by distinctive features or events

Pallid

Pale or faint in color

Precipitous

Extremely or impassably steep

Abhorred

Regarded with extreme aversion or loathing

Opaque

Not able to be seen through; not transparent

Emigration

The act of leaving one's place of residence or country to live elsewhere

Inclemency

Harshness, severity, or lack of kindness and mercy

Purloined

Stolen or taken dishonestly

Pensive

Engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought

Conjectured

Formed an opinion or conclusion on the basis of incomplete information

Venerable

Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character

Enigmatic

Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

Verdure

Lush green vegetation or foliage

Dissipates

Scatters in various directions; disperses or vanishes

Cadence

A rhythmic sequence or flow of sounds and words

Scion

A descendant, heir, or offshoot of a family

Vagabond

A person who wanders from place to place without a permanent home

Tenets

Doctrines, principles, or beliefs held by members of a group or movement

Immured

Enclosed, secluded, or confined within walls

Noisome

Offensive, foul-smelling, or extremely disgusting

Expostulate

To reason earnestly with someone to express strong disapproval or disagreement

Pittance

A very small, inadequate amount or share of money

Deprecate

To express earnest disapproval of

Sagacity

Acuteness of mental discernment, sound judgment, and wisdom

Instigate

To bring about, initiate, or urge on an action

Consternation

Feelings of sudden anxiety, dismay, or confusion

Wantonly

Deliberately and maliciously without motive or provocation

Vestige

A visible mark, trace, or evidence of something that no longer exists

Succour

Assistance, relief, and support in times of hardship or distress

Epithets

Adjectives or descriptive phrases expressing a characteristic quality of a person or thing

Malignity

A deep feeling of ill will, spite, or intense malice

Contemns

Treats or regards with disdain, scorn, or contempt

Enjoined

Instructed, urged, or ordered to do something

Enfranchised

Set free; liberated from confinement or subjugation

Sedulous

Diligent in application or attention; painstaking and persevering

Variegated

Marked with patches, streaks, or spots of different colors

Eminently

To a notable or extreme degree; conspicuously

Blight

Any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration

Precarious

Exposed to or involving danger; insecure and unsafe

Profundity

Great intellectual depth, deep insight, or seriousness

Supposition

An assumption, belief, or hypothesis based on incomplete evidence

Languid

Lacking vigor, energy, or enthusiasm; slow and sluggish

Visage

The face, facial expression, or outward countenance of a person

Vexations

States of irritation, distress, or sources of annoyance

Degradation

The state of being lowered in moral character, rank, or dignity

Imperious

Intensely compelling, urgent, or assuming authority arrogantly

Vanquished

Conquered, defeated, or overcome thoroughly by superior power

Enunciation

The act of clearly pronouncing, declaring, or articulating something