Scarlet Letter Vocab

edifice (noun)

BUILDING; especially : a large or massive structure, a large abstract structure

utopia (noun)

an imaginary and indefinitely remote place, often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions, an impractical scheme for social improvement

sepulchre (noun)

a tomb, grave, or burial place,a receptacle for religious relics especially in an altar

portal (noun)

DOOR, ENTRANCE; especially : a grand or imposing one, the whole architectural composition surrounding and including the doorways and porches of a church, the approach or entrance to a bridge or tunnel

inauspicious (adj.)

(adj.) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

augur (verb transitive)

to foretell especially from omens, to give promise of: presage

indubitable (adj)

(adj.) certain, not to be doubted or denied, to evident to be doubted

venerable (adj)

made sacred especially by religious or historical association, calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments

infamy (noun)

evil fame or reputation brought about grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal behavior, an extreme and publicly known criminal or evil act

purport (noun)

to profess, suppose, claim; conveyed, professed, or implied

autumn (noun)

a period of maturity or incipient decline

iniquity (noun)

gross injustice or wicked act or thing

sumptuary (adj)

designed to regulate extravagant expenditures habits on moral or religious grounds

evanescent (adj)

tending to vanish like vapor

ignominy (noun)

(n.) personal shame and disgrace; disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action

contrivance (noun)

something formed or created in an artistic or ingenious manner

Papist

Roman Catholic

contumely

harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt

preternatural

existing outside of nature, exceeding hat s natural or regular, inexplicable by ordinary means

phantasmagoria (noun)

a constantly shifting complex succession of things seen or imagined

mien (noun)

air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality

halberd (noun)

a weapon especially of the 15th and 16th centuries consisting typically of a battle-ax and pike mounted on a handle about six feet long

exhort (verb)

to incite by argument or advice; urge strongly

sagamore (noun)

a subordinate chief of the Algonquian Indians of the north Atlantic coast, sachem; a north american Indian chief

amenable (adj)

liable to be brought to account, capable of submission (as to judgement or test)

efficacy (noun)

the power to produce a effect

leech (noun)

physician, surgeon

quaff (verb)

to drink deeply

progenitor (noun)

an ancestor in the direct line, a biologically ancestral form

plebeian (adj)

of or relating to plebeians; crude or coarse in manner or style

emolument (noun)

the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites

mortify (verb)

to subject to severe and vexing embarrassment

imbibe (verb)

to receive into the mind and retain

insidious (verb)

awaiting a chance to entrap, harmful but enticing:seductive

contumacious (adj)

Rebellious; stubbornly disobedient

sully (transitive verb)

to make soiled or tarnished

talisman (noun)

an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune; something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects.

revere (transitive verb)

to show devoted deferential honor to: regard as worthy of great honor

inscrutable (adj)

not readily interpreted or understood; mysterious

Imbue (transitive verb)

to permeate or influence as if by dyeing; to tinge or dye deeply

mutable (noun)

prone to change, inconstant; capable of or liable to mutation

epoch (noun)

(noun) an extended period of time usually characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events

caprice (noun)

sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action b : a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes: a disposition to do things impulsively

inviolable (adj)

secure from violation or from being profaned, secure from assault or trespass

disport (verb)

transitive senses, DISPLAY intransitive senses : to amuse oneself in light or lively fashion : FROLIC

anathema (noun)

one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority b : someone or something intensely disliked or loathed \-- a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b : the denunciation of something as accursed c : a vigorous denunciation : CURSE

enmity (noun)

positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will

dearth (noun)

scarcity that makes dear; specifically : FAMINE, an inadequate supply : LACK

pristine (adj)

belonging to the earliest period or state,: not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted (as by civilization) : PURE; fresh and clean as or as if new

imperious (adj)

befitting or characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments : COMMANDING, DOMINANT; marked by arrogant assurance : DOMINEERING intensely compelling : URGENT

similitude (noun)

counterpart, double; a visible likeness. an imaginative comparison

urchin (noun)

a mischievous child

extant (adj)

currently or actually existing; not destroyed or lost

cabalist (noun)

One skilled in esoteric doctrine or mysterious art

tome (noun)

a large or scholarly book

panoply (noun)

full suit of armor, something forming a protective covering, a magnificent or impressive array

exigency (noun)

that which is required in a particular situation--usually used in plural

endue (transitive verb)

provide, endow, imbue, transfuse, put on, don

expatiate (intransitive verb)

to move about freely or at will. wander; to speak or write at length or in detail

unfeigned (adverb)

not feigned or hypocritical

behest (noun)

an authoritative command or request, an urgent promting

reproof (noun)

criticism for a fault;rebuke

indefeasible (adj)

not to be annulled or made void or undone

emaciate (verb)

to cause to lose flesh so as become very thin, to make feeble

aver (transitive verb)

to verify or prove to be true in pleading a cause, allege or assert pleading

sunder (verb)

break apart or in two, using violence

appellation (noun)

an identifying name or title; designation

elixir (noun)

a substance held capable of changing base metals into gold, a substance held capable of prolonging life indefinitely b (1) : CURE-ALL (2) : a medicinal concoction a sweetened liquid usually containing alcohol that is used in medication either for its medicinal ingredients or as a flavoring

importunate (adj)

troublesomely urgent : overly persistent in request or demand

afinity (noun)

relationship by marriage, sympathy marked by community of interest ; kinship. likeness based on relationship or causal connection: a relation between biological groups involving resemblance in structural plan and indicating a common origin

concord (noun)

(n.) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant

seer (noun)

one that predicts events or developments, a person credited with extraordinary moral and spiritual insight

erudition (noun)

extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books; profound, recondite or bookish learning

ominous (adjective)

being or exhibiting an omen

inimical( adjective)

being adverse often by reason of hostility or malevolence

Waive (transitive verb)

to put off from immediate consideration

tenacious (adj)

not easily pulled part; cohesive, tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance, ersistent in maintaining or adhering to something valued or habitual

hill-ock (noun)

a small hill

palliate (transitive verb)

to reduce the violence of (a disease), to cover by excuse and apologies, to moderate the intensity of

somniferous(adj)

causing or tending to cause sleep,tending to dull awareness or alertness

odious (adj)

exciting or deserving hatred or repugnance

machination (noun)

a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end

ethereal (adj)

of relating to the regions beyond the earth, marked by unusual delicacy or refinement, relating to, containing or resembling a chemical ether

apostolic (adj)

of or relating to the Apostles, or conforming to the teachings of the New Testament apostles

spectral (adj)

of,relating to, or suggesting a specter; Ghostly

zenith (noun)

the point of the celestial that is directly opposite the nadir and vertically above the observer, the highest point reached in the heavens by a celestial body

catarrh (noun)

inflammation of the mucous membrane;one chronically affecting human nose and air passages

gripe (noun)

a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain\-- usually used in plural; grievance, complaint; clutch, grasp

conceit (noun)

a result of mental activity , individual opinion, favorable opinion

defunct (adj)

no longer existing or functioning

torpid (adj)

having lost motion or the power of exertion or feeling, dormant, numb

Impute (transitive verb)

to lay the responsibility or blame for often falsely or unjustly, to credit a person or a cause

replete (adj)

fully or abundantly provided or filled; complete; abundantly fed

effluence (noun)

something that flows out; an action or process of flowing out

Propinquity (noun)

nearness of blood, kinship; nearness in place or time; proximity

usurp (verb)

to seize and hold (as office, place, or powers) in possession by force or without right

sedulous (adj)

involving or accomplished with careful perseverance; diligent in application or pursuit

deleterious (adj)

harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way

flag (intransitive verb)

to hang loose without stiffness, to become unsteady, feeble, or spiritless

impalpable (adj)

unable to be felt by touch; not easily comprehended/discerned by the mind