The Scarlet Letter Vocabulary Review

These flashcards contain vocabulary from "The Scarlet Letter" Chapters 1-24, including definitions to aid study and comprehension.

Edifice

A large, imposing building.

Congenial

Friendly and sociable; pleasant to be around.

Augured

To predict or foretell.

Ensue

To come afterward; to follow.

Evanescent

Quickly fading or disappearing.

Serene

Calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

Deportment

One's behavior or manners.

Ignominy

Public shame or disgrace.

Mien

A person's look or manner; demeanor.

Disdainful

Showing contempt or lack of respect.

Immaterial

Not relevant or important.

Phantasmagoric

Having a fantastic or deceptive appearance.

Remonstrance

An expression of protest, complaint, or reproof.

Garb

Clothing or dress.

Abate

To lessen in intensity or degree.

Convulsive

Characterized by convulsions or spasms.

Sojourn

A temporary stay.

Iniquity

Immoral or grossly unfair behavior.

Sagacity

The quality of being wise or having good judgment.

Obstinacy

Stubbornness; unyielding.

Transgress

To violate a law or command.

Lurid

Causing shock or horror; sensational.

Intimated

To hint or suggest subtly.

Efficacy

The ability to produce a desired or intended result.

Feigned

Pretended or simulated.

Wrench

To twist or pull violently.

Combative

Eager to fight or argue.

Inscrutable

Impossible to understand or interpret.

Fatality

An event resulting in death.

Plebeian

A member of the lower class; common.

Commiseration

Sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others.

Ascetic

Severe self-discipline and avoidance of indulgence.

Repugnance

Intense disgust.

Mutability

The quality of being changeable.

Regimen

A systematic plan or discipline.

Compulsion

The action of forcing or being forced to do something.

Caprice

A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.

Delusive

Intending to mislead; deceptive.

Inviolable

Never to be broken or dishonored.

Enmity

The state of being enemies; hostility.

Smote

Past tense of smite; to hit or strike.

Dearth

A scarcity or lack of something.

Ludicrous

Laughable or ridiculous.

Pristine

In its original condition; unspoiled.

Extant

Still in existence; not extinct.

Gilded

Wealthy and privileged.

Panoply

A complete or impressive collection.

Temporal

Relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular.

Albeit

Although; even though.

Imbibes

To drink; to absorb.

Warily

Cautiously; with care.

Inopportune

Occurring at an inconvenient or inappropriate time.

Retribution

Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance.

Heterogeneous

Diverse in character or content.

Exemplary

Providing a desirable model; representing the best of its kind.

Emaciated

Abnormally thin or weak due to illness or starvation.

Countenanced

To tolerate or permit.

Despondent

In low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

Orthodox

Conforming to what is traditionally accepted as right.

Sagacity

The quality of being discerning, sound in judgment.

Celibacy

The state of abstaining from marriage and sexual relations.

Proximity

Nearness in space, time, or relationship.

Inimical

Hostile; unfriendly.

Manifest

Clear or obvious.

Solace

Comfort or consolation in a time of distress.

Decorously

In a manner that is socially proper.

Mirth

Joyfulness, amusement, or happiness.

Demerits

A mark against a person for misconduct.

Imbued

Inspired or permeated with a feeling or quality.

Unseemly

Not proper or appropriate.

Proffering

Offering something for acceptance.

Assented

To agree to a statement or proposal.

Latent

Existing but not yet developed.

Odious

Extremely unpleasant; repulsive.

Abstruse

Difficult to understand; obscure.

Veneration

Great respect or reverence.

Diabolic

Having the qualities of a devil; evil.

Ethereal

Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems not to be of this world.

Divinity

The state of being divine; godlike quality.

Pith

The essence of something.

Impalpable

Unable to be felt by touch; intangible.

Conjecture

An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.

Scurrilous

Making claims about someone that are damaging; scandalous.

Portent

A sign or warning that something great or terrible is about to happen.

Groveled

To show excessive humility or servility.

Infer

To deduce or conclude information from evidence.

Gibe

To make insulting or mocking remarks.

Propensity

An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.

Austerity

Sternness or severity of manner or attitude.

Entreaty

An earnest or humble request.

Purport

To claim or profess.

Visage

A person's face or facial expression.

Rankle

To cause annoyance or resentment.

Propinquity

Proximity; nearness.

Bane

A cause of great distress or annoyance.

Sedulous

Showing dedication and diligence.

Upbraided

To scold or criticize severely.

Enigma

A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

Asperity

Harshness or severity.

Imputed

Attributed to someone.