UNIT 1: Jane Eyre Vocabulary (first half)

abhor

to loathe or to hate

ameliorate

to make better or more tolerable

anathema

1. someone or something intensely disliked or loathed

2. a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication (christian church)

3. a vigorous denunciation : curse

approbation

commendation, praise

assiduous

showing great care, attention, and effort

captious

1. marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections

2. calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument

celerity

rapidity of motion or action

chilblain

an inflammatory swelling or sore caused by exposure (as of the feet or hands) to cold

confabulation

1. to talk informally

2. to hold a discussion

3. to fill in gaps in memory by fabrication

contumacy

stubborn resistance to authority

specifically : willful contempt of court

rebellion, defiance, disobedience, disrespect

contumelious

insolently abusive and humiliating

abusive, insulting, obscene

debarrass

to free someone or something from hindrances, burdens, or encumbrances, often by removing obstacles or things that cause embarrassment or difficulty

doleful

1. full of grief

mournful, weeping, heartbroken

dun

1. having a slightly brownish dark gray color

2. of a horse: having a grayish-yellow coat

3. marked by dullness and drabness

enigmatical

mysterious, puzzling, or hard to understand

equipage

1. A carriage with its horses, driver, and attendants (old-fashioned use)

2. Equipment or supplies needed for a journey or task.

etiolated

• Pale, weak, and sickly (when talking about a person).

• Made pale or weak from lack of light (especially plants).

evince

to clearly show or reveal (a feeling, quality, or fact)

execration

1. a curse

2. something hated

fulminating

1. exploding or thundering violently

2. ranting or protesting loudly with anger

gander

1. a male goose

2. a look or glance

halcyon

1. calm, peaceful, and happy

2. a legendary bird

hebdomadal

weekly, or happening once every seven days

ignominy

personal shame, disgrace, or dishonor

impudence

rudeness, disrespect

inanition

1. exhaustion caused by lack of food or resources

2. emptiness or lack of meaning/ideas

inured

accustomed to something unpleasant or difficult, so it no longer bothers you

lachrymose

tearful or given to weeping; sad and mournful

limpid

clear, transparent, or easily understood

lugubrious

looking or sounding sad or gloomy

meed

a reward, deserved payment, or recognition or effort or merit

mien

a person’s appearance, manner, or expression that shows their character or mood

moiety

a part or portion or half of something

neophyte

a beginner or someone who is new to a subject

onus

a burden, responsibility, or duty

opprobrium

public disgrace or shame

palliate

to make a problem or symptom less severe without actually solving the underlying cause

paltry

very small or insignificant

penurious

1. extremely poor

2. unwilling to spend money

perfidious

deceitful or untrustworthy

piquant

1. spicy or sharp in taste (literally)

2. interesting stimulating or lively (figuratively)

poltroon

a coward

preternatural

beyond what is normal; extraordinary or unusual

quiescence

a state of quiet or stillness

raillery

good humored, playful, light

raiment

clothing or garments

remonstrate

protest or objection, to show disagreement

ribaldry

humorous talk or behavior, often sexual or vulgar

sagacity

wisdom or shrewdness, ability to perceive and understand complex situations

sallow

pale, yellowish, or unhealthy-looking skin

salubrious

healthy, pleasant, or beneficial, often for your health

sanguine

optimistic, hopeful, lively, or confident

sere

withered, drying up

slattern

a dirty or untidy woman

soporific

causing sleep or drowsiness

sough

a murmuring or rustling sound (like wind through trees or water)

stile

a set of steps for climbing over a fence or wall

sublunary

belonging to the earthly world, or mortal (under the moon)

sumptuously

lavishly, richly, or luxuriously

sundry

various, diverse, or miscellaneous

supercilious

arrogant or haughty

surtout

a long overcoat

sylph

a slender or graceful woman or mythical air spirit

taciturn

silent or reserved

trite

overused, cliched, or unoriginal

truculent

aggressively defiant or hostile, fierce

usurious

the practice of lending money at an illegally or excessively high rate of interest

venerable

worthy of respect due to age, dignity, or wisdom