Jane Eyre Vocabulary

bilious

(adjective) peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant

ignominy

(noun) deep personal humiliation and disgrace

truculent

(adjective) fierce and cruel; eager to fight

diffidence

(noun) shyness; lack of confidence

impudence

(noun) a state of being marked by contemptuous boldness or disregard of others

opprobrium

(noun) public disgrace

inanition

(noun) exhaustion or weakness due to lack of food or energy

assiduity

(noun) diligence; care

soporific

(adjective) causing sleep or lethargy

meretricious

(adjective) gaudy; falsely attractive

saturnine

(adjective) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood

propitious

(adjective) favorably disposed

sagacity

(adjective) being keen in sense perception; wisdom

acumen

(noun) keen insight

augment

(verb) to make greater, more numerous, larger, increase

renumeration

(noun) payment for work done

ebullition

(noun) bubbling over; outburst of spirit

lamentable

(adjective) that is to be regretted

torpid

(adjective) sluggish in functioning or act

antipathy

(noun) settled aversion or dislike

pungent

(adjective) a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors

trifles

(noun) something of little value, substance, or importance

reviled

(adjective) subjected to verbal abuse; scolded

consternation

(noun) feelings of amazement or dismay

tumult

(noun) disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd, usually with confusion of voices

noxious

(adjective) physically harmful or destructive to living beings

propensity

(noun) an often intense natural inclination or preference

sanguine

(adjective) having temperament marked by sturdiness, high color, and cheerfulness

interloper

(noun) one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity

abhor

(verb) to regard with extreme dislike

precocious

(adjective) exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age

parley

(verb) to speak with another; to discourse

insuperable

(adjective) incapable of being surmounted, passed over, or solved

audacious

(adjective) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring

capricious

(adjective) governed by impulsive and seemingly unmotivated notion or action

usurious

(adjective) practicing usury: the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates

preternatural

(adjective) exceeding what is natural or regular

cessation

(noun) a stopping; a discontinuance

refectory

(noun) a dining hall

ravenous

(adjective) very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification

throng

(noun) a multitude of assembled persons

ewer

(noun) a vase-shaped pitcher or jug

penurious

(adjective) marked or suffering from a cramping and oppressive lack of resources

solace

(noun) alleviation of grief or anxiety

perfidious

(adjective) the quality or sate of being faithless or disloyal

ameliorate

(verb) to make better or more tolerable; to improve

scourge

(noun) a cause of wide or great affliction

ostensible

(adjective) intended for display: open to view

docile

(adjective) easily taught, led or managed

judicious

(adjective) using or showing good judgment, wise, sensible

fastidious

(adjective) very attentive to matters of cleanliness or detail

gregarious

(adjective) fond of company, sociable; outgoing and talkative

salubrious

(adjective) favorable to or promoting health or well-being

assuage

(verb) to lessen the intensity of something that pains or distresses

lugubrious

(adjective) exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful

harangue

(noun) a ranting speech or writing

anathema

(noun) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation

traverse

(verb) to go or travel across or over

supercilious

(adjective) coolly and patronizingly haughty

physiognomy

(noun) facial features held to show qualities of character by their configuration

impetuous

(adjective) marked by impulsive vehemence or passion

ascetic

(adjective) strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline

eradicate

(verb) to root out, get rid of, destroy completely

talisman

(noun) an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune

impediment

(noun) a physical defect; a hindrance, obstacle

expostulate

(verb) to reason earnestly for purpose of dissuasion or remonstrance

impetus

(noun) a driving force; impulse

avaricious

(adjective) greedy; excessively acquisitive in seeking to hoard riches

eschew

(verb) to avoid habitually; especially on moral or practical grounds

remonstrance

(noun) an earnest presentation of reasons for opposition or grievance

odious

(adjective) arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance

emaciated

(adjective) abnormally thin or weak; especially because of illness or a lack of food

pallid

(adjective) deficient in color suggesting physical or emotional distress

quiescent

(adjective) marked by inactivity or response; tranquilly at rest

elysium

(noun) the abode of the blessed after death in classical mythology

superfluity

(noun) an unnecessarily or excessively large amount or number of something

odious

(adjective) arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance

vicinage

(noun) a neighboring or surrounding district