In Cold Blood, To Kill a Mockingbird, Our Town, Twelfth Night

Hamlet

small village

Beneficence

doing good

impinge

to encroach; to trespass

fortnight

two weeks

abstemious

moderate in appetite

equanimity

(n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic

infinitude

the state of having no limit

roguish

mischievous, dishonest

mesmeric

Fascinating, hypnotic

pragmatic

practical, as opposed to idealistic

enigma

a puzzle; a mystery

affront

an action or remark that causes outrage or offense

reticent

silent; reserved

ineffable

inexpressible, indescribable

gewgaw

a showy but worthless trinket

austere

severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

coterie

a small group of people who share interests and meet frequently

overt

Done or shown openly

adjudicate

to act as judge in a matter; to decide

unctuous

exaggeratedly or insincerely polite

assuage

to make less severe, to make easier

taciturn

always quiet

contentious

argumentative

asinine

stupid

malignant

harmful, evil

benign

harmless

aloof

distant, emotionless

whittle

to carve or shape into

analogous

similar, possessing shared qualities

prerogative

a right or privilege

qualms

concerns, causes for being hesitant

expunge

to erase or eliminate, usually from an official record

contraband

illegal, usually smuggled, goods

temerity

dangerous or reckless boldness

furtive

secret, stealthy

gait

a person's manner of walking

veneer

thin layer or appearance

squalid

filthy, run down

vexation

irritation, annoyance

aberration

something different from the normal course

savant

educated person

anthropological

related to the study of human beings

careen

to swerve or lurch from side to side while in motion

spry

active and nimble

alacrity

eagerness

crestfallen

discouraged, dejected, downcast

Proscenium

the wall frame for a stage

tableau

dramatic scene or picture, usually motionless

rheumatism

a painful condition involving the joints and muscles

lugubrious

excessively mournful

epitaph

an inscription on a tombstone or burial place

wean

to withdraw from any type of habit

trellis

wooden structure to support climbing plants, often made of lattice

gingham

a cotton cloth with a checkered pattern

traipse

to walk or travel with no set purpose

surfeit

excess; overindulgence

pestilence

any epidemic disease with a high death rate

brine

water with a high concentration of salt in it

sovereign

a nation's ruler or head of state usually by hereditary right

provident

preparing or providing for the future

prattle

to talk rapidly and foolishly

eunuch

a man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction

prodigal

wastefully extravagant

accost

to approach and speak to first, often in a confronting or aggressive way

strife

bitter conflict

transgress

to behave in a way that violates or goes beyond the rules or the law

dexterously

skillfully

peevish

easily irritated or annoyed

lethargy

lack of energy; sluggishness

mirth

great merriment

churlish

rude or surly; mean

wanton

reckless; hard to control

Tabor

small drum

lustrous

shiny, bright

Epistle

a letter written to someone