Untitled Flashcards Set

Beguile (v) - to win attention/interest through trickery
However, Ausable wasn’t going to give up just yet. He worked down his list of contacts until he managed to beguile an instructor, through some well placed flattery, into taking Alex on. 

Hackneyed (adj) - lacking originality
Ausable was a little concerned about what would become of Alex because this instructor’s teaching was known for being a little hackneyed. He was good at honing the basics, but awful with teaching the artistry component of jousting. 

Palpable (adj) - (about a feeling or atmosphere) so intense you can almost feel it
When Ausable finally broke the news to Alex, she tried to cover up her displeasure, but it was palpable in her grim facial expression and short sentences. 

Multitudinous (adj) - very numerous
Alex had multitudinous concerns about this new trainer, and Ausable didn’t do a good job at assuaging her of these concerns. 

Carouse (v) - to “party” and drink excessively
Ausable thought it was worth adding that the new trainer had a reputation for carousing more than necessary, and suggested that this might be the reason why he wasn’t the most qualified instructor. 

Melee (n) - a confused fight/skirmish
In fact, this new trainer - Augustus - was known for starting jousting melees when he was drunk. While this was an unfortunate habit in general, it did provide him with plenty of informal jousting practice.

Unbecoming (adj) - unflattering (usually clothes/color)
While the reputation Augustus gained from behaving this way was unbecoming, it did mean that he had very few students and therefore had time to take on training Alex.

Grave (adj) - very serious
While the reason for Augustus’ free schedule did not flatter Alex at all, she understood that finding a substitute for Ausable was needed as his health situation was grave. She would take what she could get.

Verity (n) - truth
Also, Alex would rather the verity of her situation be clear rather than be obstructed by lies. At least she knew what she was getting with Augustus.

Dolorous (adj) - having great sorrow or distress
While Alex knew about Ausable’s condition, she didn’t know the full extent of his illness. When Ausable passed away soon after squaring away her training with Augustus, she felt dolorous and grieved his death.

Bode (v) - to be an omen of a particular outcome
Ausable’s death impacted her severely, and her emotional state boded poorly on the relationship she needed to now form with Augustus. She simply could not be open to another trainer so soon after Ausable’s passing.

Dissemble (v) - disguise/conceal one’s true motives
It took her a few days but Alex was ultimately able to pull herself together, despite her grief. She knew she would have to dissemble her pain in order to take up her training again - and she wanted, above all, to joust.

Fell (adj) - cruel, terrible
The fell reality was that her sorrow made her unable to focus, despite her wanting to do just that, and she faltered during practice. Because she refused to let Augustus understand the depths of her grief, Augustus interpreted her performance as Ausable having pulled the wool over his eyes. Augustus presumed that Alex was a fraud, instead of a person struggling with her emotions.

Scruple (n) - a feeling of doubt/hesitation about a matter of morality
Augustus now had serious scruples about taking Alex on as a student.

Fortitude (n) - courage in pain/adversity
Alex noticed that Augustus was treating her with kid gloves, and realized that she would need to display more fortitude in the face of her grief if she was ever going to continue her training. Ausable would have wanted that.

Consternation (n) - feelings of anxiety or dismay
Augustus ultimately pulled Alex aside to explain his annoyance and consternation with her, that he was made to believe she was an accomplished jouster already and she wasn’t holding her end of the bargain. It was at this moment that Alex finally explained her feelings to Augustus.