Vocabulary Flashcards from Lecture Notes

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and their definitions from various literary works.

artisan

someone who does skilled work with their hands

nimble

quick and exact either in movement or thoughts

imitation

something copied, or the act of copying

homage

deep respect and often praise shown for a person or god

inscrutable

not showing emotions or thoughts and therefore very difficult to understand or get to know

torment

great mental suffering and unhappiness, or great physical pain

intimate

having, or being likely to cause, a very close friendship or personal or sexual relationship

gallantry

polite and kind behavior towards women, especially when in public

elegant

graceful and attractive in appearance or behavior

tremendous

very great in amount or level, or extremely good

gorgeous

very beautiful or pleasant

covetous

wanting to have something too much, especially something that belongs to someone else

bewilderment

a state of confusion

awry

not in the intended way

dowry

an amount of money or property that a woman's parents give to the man she marries

tavern

a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food

ashamed

feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or about a quality in your character

arithmetic

the part of mathematics that involves the adding and multiplying, etc. of numbers

sneak

to go somewhere secretly, or to take someone or something somewhere secretly

applause

the sound of people clapping their hands repeatedly to show enjoyment or approval

squirm

to move from side to side in an awkward way, sometimes because of nervousness, embarrassment, or pain

troublemaker

someone who intentionally causes problems for other people

get over

to get better after an illness, or feel better after something or someone has made you unhappy

idiot

a stupid person or someone who is behaving in a stupid way

community

the people living in one particular area or considered as a unit because of their common interests

pledge

a serious or formal promise, especially one to give money or to be a friend

alphabetically

in a way that has the same order as the letters of the alphabet

relief

food, money, or services that provide help for people in need

function

to work or operate

worthy

deserving respect, admiration, or support

annual

happening once every year

welfare

help given to people who need it, especially because they do not have enough money

afflict

suffering or experiencing a problem or illness

aquiver

shaking slightly, often because of strong emotion

elusive

vague, difficult to describe, find, or remember

persistence

the fact that something continues to exist or someone continues doing something in a determined way

implore

to ask someone to do or not do something in a very sincere and emotional way

piercing

unpleasant or uncomfortable feeling or pain occurred when something very bad happened

peddler

a person who travels to different places to sell small goods

subtle

not loud, noticeable, or obvious in any way

trivial

having little value or importance

elixir of life

a substance capable of prolonging life

shudder

to suddenly shake because of a very unpleasant thought or feeling

importunity

an act of repeatedly asking for something, in a forceful and annoying way

unwittingly

in a way that is done without knowing or planning

descend

to go or come down

monstrous

very cruel

urchin

a small child, especially one who behaves badly and is dirty or untidily dressed

wretch

a person who experiences something unpleasant

extricate

to remove something or set something free with difficulty

remnant

a small piece or amount of something that is left from a larger original piece

perspiration

polite word for sweat

affection

a feeling of liking for a person or place

cradle

to hold something or someone gently

gaunt

very thin, especially because of sickness or hunger

subdue

to reduce the force of something, or to prevent something from existing or developing

tempt

to make someone want to have or do something, especially something unnecessary or wrong

gleam

to produce or reflect a small, bright light

aspiration

something that you hope to achieve

besiege

to surround a place

ridiculous

stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at

convulsive

used to describe movements that are violent and uncontrollable

anesthetic

a substance that makes you unable to feel pain

strain

to become stretched or to experience pressure

intravenous

into or connected to a vein

faint

not strong or clear; slight

discern

to see, recognize, or understand something that is not clear

crumple

to become, or cause something to become, full of folds that are not equal in size

venom

a poisonous liquid that some snakes produce and can put into another animal's body

poison

a substance that can make people or animals ill or kill them if they eat or drink it

serum

a liquid containing substances that fight infection

sterilise

to make something completely clean and free from bacteria

tourniquet

a strip of cloth that is tied tightly around an injured arm or leg to stop it bleeding

chloroform

a clear liquid with a sweet smell that makes you unconscious if you breathe it in

oppressive

cruel and unfair

frivolous

behaving in a silly way and not taking anything seriously

sarcasm

the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say

attachment

a feeling of love or strong connection to someone or something

coquette

a woman who likes to attract attention by behaving as if she is sexually interested

courtiers

a companion of a queen, king, or ruler in their official home

embroider

to decorate cloth or clothing with patterns or pictures by sewing stitches onto the material

shabby

looking old and in bad condition

despise

to feel a strong dislike for someone or something

slack off

to work less hard than usual

genuine

being what something or someone appears or claims to be; real, not false

lousy

very bad

cram

to force a lot of things into a small space

mock

to laugh at someone in a funny but unkind way

peculiar

unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way

conjure

to make something appear by magic

flat out

completely; used for emphasis

nosy

too interested in what other people are doing

dreaded

causing fear or worry

offence

an illegal act; a crime

pester

to behave in an annoying manner towards someone

contemplate

to spend time considering a possible future action

cripple

to cause serious damage to someone or something

marvel

to show or experience great surprise or admiration

ransom

a large amount of money demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner

coax

to persuade someone kindly to do something