Jane Eyre Vocab

appertain

relate to; concern.

be appropriate or applicable.

debase

reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade

lower the value of (coinage) by reducing the content of precious metal.

marginalize

treat (a person, group, or concept) as insignificant or peripheral

contort

twist or bend out of the normal shape.

threshold

a point of entry or beginning

the beginning of an airport runway on which an aircraft is attempting to land.

annihilation

the act of completely destroying or wiping out something.

unregenerate

not reforming or changing one's ways; stubbornly resistant to improvement or regeneration.

assassination

the intentional killing of a prominent person.

intemperate

having or showing a lack of self-control; immoderate

given to or characterized by excessive indulgence, especially in alcohol

chaste

abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse.

without unnecessary ornamentation; simple or restrained

subversive

seeking or intended to undermine the power and authority of an established system or institution

dross

something regarded as worthless; rubbish.

cosset

care for and protect in an overindulgent way

heiress

a woman who is legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death

a woman inheriting and continuing the legacy of a predecessor

bigamy

the offense of marrying someone while already married to another person

perennial

lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring

incendiary

(of a device or attack) designed to cause fires

curmudgeonly

(especially of an old person) bad-tempered and negative

wraith

a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death

used in reference to a pale, thin, or insubstantial person or thing

battlement

a parapet at the top of a wall, especially of a fort or castle, that has regularly spaced squared openings for shooting through

covenant

an agreement

patrilineal

relating to or based on relationship to the father or descent through the male line

qualm

an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one's own conduct; a misgiving

decree

an official order issued by a legal authority.

cuplable

deserving blame

indiscretion

behavior or speech that is indiscreet or displays a lack of good judgment