The Death of Ivan Ilych

icon

a representation of some sacred personage or event, such as Christ or a saint or the Resurrection, painted usually on a wood surface and venerated for its subject.

demise

death or decease

conjecture

the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof

complacent

pleased, especially with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied.

obeisance

a movement of the body expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy, as before a superior; a bow, curtsy, or other similar gesture

vigorous

energetic; forceful; displaying, involving, characterized by, or performed with vigour; strong, active, robust

reproach

to find fault with (a person, group, etc) blame or censure

infringe

to commit a breach or information of; violate or transgress

despondent

feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom

magnanimous

generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness

circumstantial

of the nature of a circumstance or minor detail; nonessential; secondary

incessant

continuing without interruption; unending; ceaseless

dissimulate

to disguise or conceal under a false appearance; dissemble

pension

a fixed amount, other than wages, paid at regular intervals to a person or to the person's surviving dependents in consideration of past services, age, merit, poverty, injury or loss sustained, etc..

scowl

to draw down or contract the brows in a sullen, displeased, or angry manner

morose

gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood

superfluous

unnecessary or needless

sinecure

an office or position requiring little or no work, especially one yielding profitable returns

toady

an obsequious flatterer; sycophant

assimilate

to bring into conformity with the customs, attitudes, etc., of a dominant social group, nation, or the like; adapt or adjust

sensual

pertaining to, inclined to, or preoccupied with the gratification of the senses or appetites; carnal; fleshly

vanity

excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.

portmanteau

a case or bag to carry clothing in while traveling, especially a leather trunk or suitcase that opens into two halves

decorous

characterized by dignified propriety in conduct, manners, appearance, character, etc

sectarian

narrowly confined or limited in interest, purpose, scope, etc.

a member of a sect (a group regarded as heretical or as deviating from a generally accepted religious tradition)

punctilious

strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions

obsequious

characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; fawning; ingratiating

timorous

full of fear; fearful

provincial

having or showing the manners, viewpoints, etc., considered characteristic of unsophisticated inhabitants of a province; rustic; narrow or illiberal; parochial

aloof

reserved or reticent; indifferent; disinterested

propriety

conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners; appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability

obliged

to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity

nag

to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands

supersede

to replace in power, authority, effectiveness, acceptance, use, etc., as by another person or thing; to succeed to the position, function, office, etc

fête

to celebrate, laud, or acclaim

decorum

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

virtuoso

a person who has special knowledge or skill in a field

amenity

the quality of being pleasing or agreeable in situation, prospect, disposition, etc.; pleasantness

gnaw

to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.; vex; plague

tedious

marked by monotony or tedium; long and tiresome

acute

sharp or sever in effect, intense; extremely sensitive even to slight details or impressions

diagnose

to determine the identity of (a disease, illness, etc.) by a medical examination

abyss

a deep, immeasurable space, gulf, or cavity; vast chasm

excretion

the substance excreted, as urine or sweat, or certain plant products

homeopathist

a person who practices or favors homeopathy (the method of treating disease by drugs, given in minute doses, that would produce in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of the disease)

florid

reddish; ruddy; rosy

malignant

disposed to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately; feeling or showing ill will or hatred

despair

loss of hope; hopelessness

abstract

expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance, as justice, poverty, and speed

morbid

suggesting an unhealthy mental state or attitude; unwholesomely gloomy, sensitive, extreme, etc.

petrified

having been numbed or paralyzed with astonishment, horror, or other strong emotion

console

to alleviate or lessen the grief, sorrow, or disappointment of; give solace or comfort

syllogism

subtle, sophisticated or deceptive argument

banish

to compel to depart; send, drive, or put away

somnolent

sleepy; drowsy

unseemly

not in keeping with established standards of taste or proper form; unbecoming or indecorous in appearance, speech, conduct, etc.

deft

dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever

solemn

gravely or somberly impressive; causing serious thoughts or a grave mood

emaciation

abnormal thinness caused by lack of nutrition or by disease

enfeebled

feeble; weak

unmitigated

not mitigated; not softened or lessened

inexorable

unyielding; unalterable

wane

to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.

pallid

pale; faint or deficient in color; wan

vivacious

lively; animated; spirited

contemptuous

showing or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; disrespectful

affability

the quality of being pleasantly easy to approach and talk to; friendliness or warm politeness

vexation

the state of being vexed; vexed; irritation; annoyance

reminiscence

the act or process of recalling past experiences, events, etc

ebb

a flowing backward or away; decline or decay

insoluble

incapable of being solved or explained

saliva

a viscid, watery fluid, secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands, that functions in the tasting, chewing, and swallowing of food, moistens the mouth, and starts the digestion of starches

velocity

rapidity of motion or operation; swiftness; speed

animosity

a feeling of strong dislike, ill will, or enmity that tends to display itself in action

perceptible

capable of being perceived; recognizable; appreciable

suppress

to keep in or repress (a feeling, smile, groan, etc.)

suffocation

the act of killing by preventing air from getting to the blood through the lungs or gills; strangulation

condemned

pronounced guilty; sentenced to punishment, especially capital punishment

rectify

to make, put, or set right; remedy; correct

Gazette

a journal, newspaper

le phénix de la famille

A promising family member destined for high achievement and admiration

respice finem

“consider the end”; prompting thought about the final result of life or actions

bon enfant

good-natured; good child; easy going; naive

Il faut que jeunesse se passe

youth must have its fling

comme il faut

correct in behavior

vint

come; twenty; a form of bridge

de gaieté de cœur

“with a light hear”; an action done with cheerfulness, good spirits, and willingness

ennui

boredom; dissatisfaction

savoir-faire

know how

À la Capoul

in the style of Capoul (man hairstyle)