Scarlet Letter Vocab

Venerable

worthy of respect because of age, wisdom, or character

progenitor

an ancestor; founder; originator

nonentity

an unimportant or insignificant person

voluminous

very large; taking up much space

tempestuous

stormy; turbulent; full of strong emotions

evanescent

quickly fading or disappearing

besom

a broom made of twigs

indolent

lazy; avoiding activity

polemical

argumentative or controversial

emoluments

salary, profit, or payment from employment

vicissitude

a change in circumstances; ups and downs of life

esoteric

understood by only a small group of people

sepulcher

a tomb or burial place

heterodox

contrary to accepted beliefs

deportment

behavior; manner of conducting oneself

iniquity

great injustice or wickedness

Utopia

an ideal, perfect society

infamy

a reputation for being evil or disgraceful

countenance

a person's face or expression

tremulous

trembling or shaking

edifice

a large building

autumnal

relating to autumn

phantasmagoric

dreamlike; bizarre; constantly changing

physiognomy

facial features or expression

ignominy

public shame or disgrace

visage

a person's face

sagamores

Native American chiefs or leaders

ascetic

practicing strict self-discipline; a person who does so

contumacious

stubbornly disobedient

peremptory

demanding immediate obedience; bossy

penitence

feeling sorry for wrongdoing

amenable

willing to cooperate

paramour

a secret love

reviled

criticized harshly

caprice

a sudden change of mood or idea

vivify

to bring to life or energize

exhortation

a strong encouragement or urging

anathema

something or someone intensely disliked or condemned

ludicrous

ridiculous; laughably absurd

cabalistic

mysterious or secretive

expatiating

speaking or writing at length

importunate

persistent and demanding

intrinsic

essential; naturally belonging

leech

a physician (old-fashioned meaning)

mountebank

a fraud or trickster

sagacity

wisdom; good judgment

imperious

arrogant and commanding

panoply

a complete set or collection

vindicate

to clear from blame

diabolical

devilish; wicked

dauntless

fearless

eldritch

eerie; strange; supernatural

chirurgical

relating to surgery

askance

with suspicion or disapproval

vestment

ceremonial clothing

impalpable

impossible to touch or understand clearly

decorous

proper; polite

eccentricities

unusual behaviors

etherealized

made delicate or heavenly

somnambulism

sleepwalking

impute

to attribute or blame

palliate

to lessen severity; make easier to bear

imbued

filled with

inextricable

impossible to separate

malevolence

ill will; hatred

somniferous

causing sleep

infirmity

physical weakness

expiation

making amends for wrongdoing

erudite

highly educated

prolix

too wordy; lengthy

augured

predicted; indicated

efficacy

effectiveness

preternatural

beyond normal; supernatural

inauspicious

unlucky; unfavorable

imbibed

absorbed; drank in

plebeian

ordinary; common person

abased

humiliated; lowered in rank

speculation

guessing or theorizing

retribution

punishment for wrongdoing

petulant

easily irritated; childish

pristine

original; pure; unspoiled

stigmatized

marked with shame or disgrace

sedulous

hardworking and diligent

asperity

harshness in tone or manner

despots

tyrannical rulers

obviated

prevented or avoided

deleterious

harmful

propensity

natural tendency

acquiescing

accepting reluctantly

nuptial

relating to marriage

scrofula

a disease causing swollen neck glands

contiguity

nearness; touching

denizens

inhabitants

loquacity

talkativeness

malignity

evil intent; hatred

choleric

easily angered

atheist

a person who does not believe in God

trammeled

restricted; confined

Pentecost

Christian holiday celebrating the Holy Spirit

subjugated

brought under control