The Fall of the House of Usher (Edgar Allan Poe)

All definitions are sourced from Merriam Webster. All definitions given are to be compared to the context of the story so as to avoid mistranslations.

oppressive

oppressive

(adjective) unreasonably burdensome or severe

heaven

(noun) the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome (usually used in plural)

dreary

(adjective) feeling, displaying, or reflecting listlessness or discouragement

(to) pervade

(verb) to become diffused throughout every part of

melancholy

(noun) depression of spirits

insufferable

(adjective) not to be endured

desolate

(adjective) showing the effects of abandonment and neglect

sedge

(noun) any of a family

aught

(to) sublime

(verb) to cause to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state and condense back to solid form

superstition

(noun) a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation

peculiar

(adjective) characteristic of only one person, group, or thing

pestilent

(adjective) destructive of life

minute

(adjective) very small

(to) dilapidate

(verb) to bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin

masonry

(noun) something constructed of materials used by masons

(to) scrutinize

(verb) to examine closely and minutely

sullen

(adjective) gloomily or resentfully silent or repressed

fissure

(noun) a narrow opening or crack of considerable length and depth usually occurring from some breaking or parting

tarn

(noun) a small steep-banked mountain lake or pool

causeway

(noun) a raised way across wet ground or water

thence

(adverb) from that place

intricate

(adjective) having many complexly relating parts or element

somber

(adjective) of a serious mien

phantasmagoria

(noun) an exhibition of optical effects and illusions

countenance

(noun) look, mental composure

(to) mingle

(verb) to bring or mix together or with something else usually without fundamental loss of identity

cunning

(adjective) characterized by wiliness and trickery

perplexity

(noun) the state of being perplexed

(to) accost

(verb) to approach and speak to (someone) in an often challenging or aggressive way

trepidation

(noun) a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation

valet

(noun) a man’s male servant who performs personal services (such as taking care of clothing)

lofty

(adjective) rising to a great height

feeble

(adjective) deficient in qualities or resources that indicate vigor, authority, force, or efficiency

gleams

(noun) a transient appearance of subdued or partly obscured light

trellis

(noun) a frame of latticework used as a screen or as a support for climbing plants

vain

(adjective) marked by futility or ineffectiveness

recess

(noun) a hidden, secret, or secluded place or part

(to) fret

(verb) to cause to suffer emotional strain

profuse

(adjective) exhibiting great abundance

tattered

(adjective) torn into shreds

vitality

(noun) lively and animated character

vivacious

(adjective) lively in temper, conduct, or spirit

cordiality

constrained

awe

wan

cadaverous

(adjective) of or relating to a corpse

luminous

(adjective) emitting or reflecting usually steady, suffused, or glowing light

(to) prevail

(verb) to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority

ghastly

(adjective) terrifyingly horrible to the senses

pallor

(noun) deficiency of color especially of the face

luster

(noun) a glow of reflected light

unheeded

(adjective) not attended or listened to

feeble

(adjective) markedly lacking in strength

futile

(adjective) serving no useful purpose

reminiscences

(noun) recall to mind of a long-forgotten experience or fact

concision

(noun) a cutting up or off

enunciation

(verb) to make a definite or systematic statement of

guttural

(adjective) articulated in the throat

utterance

(noun) something uttered

irreclaimable

(adjective) incapable of being reclaimed

(to) solace

(verb) to give comfort in grief or misfortune

malady

(noun) an unwholesome or disordered condition

remedy

(noun) a medicine, application, or treatment that relieves or cures a disease

bewildered

(adjective) deeply or utterly confused or perplexed

morbid

(adjective) of, relating to, or characteristic of disease

acuteness

(adjective) characterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset

insipid

(adjective) lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge

endurable

(adjective) capable of being endured

torture

(noun) the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure

garment

(noun) an article of clothing

horror

(noun) painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay