Heart of Darkness Vocab List 1

luminous

glowing; full of light

ascetic

practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal or spiritual discipline

venerable

sacred or highly respected

diaphanous

a light, translucent fabric

august

marked by majestic dignity

inscrutable

not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood

propensity

an intense preference or natural inclination

spectral

ghostly

immutability

permanence; unable to be changed

ominous

unfavorable or threatening

scrutinize

to look at critically

sententiously

morally lecturing in a pompous manner

emissary

someone sent on a missions to represent the interests of another

enigma

mystery, puzzle, riddle

insipid

without any taste or spirit of interest

sordid

morally degraded

lugubrious

exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful

drollery

whimsical humor

morose

having a gloomy disposition

declivity

a downward slope or bend

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness; punctuality

rapacious

excessively covetous or greedy

obliquely

indirectly; at a sloping angle

effaced

made inconspicuous or insignificant; erased

moribund

in a state of dying or at the point of death

pestilence

contagion; infection

demoralization

corruption or to make someone lose spirit or hope

trenchant

vigorously effective; sharp-edged; biting

deplorable

deserving contempt or strong condemnation

indefatigable

unable to become tired; does not wear out

gesticulating

expressing emotion through movement

epoch

a time period or fixed point

ostentation

a showy display

beguiled

bewitched; wasted (when used with “time”)

prevaricator

liar; equivocator