The Scarlet Letter Vocab

Throng

a great number of persons crowded together.

Utopia

a place or state of political or social perfection. Comes from a novel by Sir Thomas Moore about a perfect society.

Sepulchres

a burial vault built of rock or stone.

Inauspicious

not prosperous.

Physiognomies

the facial features held to show qualities of mind or character by their configuration or expression.

Augured

foretold.

Betokened

given evidence of.

Indubitably

unquestionably.

Antinomian

one who rejects a socially established morality.

Heterodox

holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines.

Venerable

made sacred especially by religious or historical association.

Scaffold

a platform on which a criminal is executed.

Infamy

evil reputation brought about by something grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal.

Malefactresses

a person who violates the law or does evil.

Abashed

to destroy the self-confidence of.

Sumptuary

designed to regulate habits on moral or religious grounds.

Ignominy

disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action.

Visage

appearance.

Countenances

looks; expressions.

Abate

put an end to.

Writhing

to twist in pain; to suffer keenly.

Sojourn

a temporary stay.

Sagacity

of keen mind: shrewd.

Obstinacy

fixed and unyielding; stubborn.

Amenable

willing to yield or submit: agreeable.

Peremptory

leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal.

Alchemy

a power or process of transforming something common into something precious.

Vivify

to endure with life or renew life: animate.

Assimilate

to absorb into the cultural tradition of a population or group.

Plebeian

one of the common people.

Commiseration

to feel or express sympathy: condole.

Contumaciously

stubbornly disobedient: rebellious.

Efficacy

effective as a means of remedy.

Imbued

inspired as with feelings, opinions, etc.

Mutability

subject to change.

Caprice

a sudden, impulsive change: whim.

Epoch

a point in time marked by the beginning of anew development or state of things.

Paternity

father.