Frankenstein: Chapters 3–7

by Mary Shelley
In this groundbreaking novel, Dr. Victor Frankenstein works feverishly to bring an inanimate creature to life — but when he finally succeeds, he is horrified by what he has unleashed. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Letter 1–Chapter 2, Chapters 3–7, Chapters 8–12, Chapters 13–17, Chapters 18–24
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. prognosticate
    indicate by signs
    On the third day my mother sickened; her fever was accompanied by the most alarming symptoms, and the looks of her medical attendants prognosticated the worst event.
  2. panegyric
    a formal expression of praise
    After having made a few preparatory experiments, he concluded with a panegyric upon modern chemistry, the terms of which I shall never forget...
  3. palpable
    capable of being perceived
    As he went on I felt as if my soul were grappling with a palpable enemy; one by one the various keys were touched which formed the mechanism of my being; chord after chord was sounded, and soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose.
  4. affability
    a disposition to be friendly and approachable
    His manners in private were even more mild and attractive than in public, for there was a certain dignity in his mien during his lecture which in his own house was replaced by the greatest affability and kindness.
  5. deference
    a courteous expression of esteem or regard
    ...I expressed myself in measured terms, with the modesty and deference due from a youth to his instructor, without letting escape (inexperience in life would have made me ashamed) any of the enthusiasm which stimulated my intended labours.
  6. dogmatism
    arrogant or stubborn insistence that one's views are correct
    His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism, and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature that banished every idea of pedantry.
  7. pedantry
    an ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning
    His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism, and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature that banished every idea of pedantry.
  8. abstruse
    difficult to understand
    In a thousand ways he smoothed for me the path of knowledge and made the most abstruse inquiries clear and facile to my apprehension.
  9. consummation
    the act of bringing to completion or fruition
    After so much time spent in painful labour, to arrive at once at the summit of my desires was the most gratifying consummation of my toils.
  10. incipient
    only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
    Sometimes I grew alarmed at the wreck I perceived that I had become; the energy of my purpose alone sustained me: my labours would soon end, and I believed that exercise and amusement would then drive away incipient disease; and I promised myself both of these when my creation should be complete.
  11. delineate
    describe in vivid detail
    How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?
  12. lassitude
    weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy
    At length lassitude succeeded to the tumult I had before endured, and I threw myself on the bed in my clothes, endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness.
  13. pertinacity
    persistent determination
    Doubtless my words surprised Henry; he at first believed them to be the wanderings of my disturbed imagination, but the pertinacity with which I continually recurred to the same subject persuaded him that my disorder indeed owed its origin to some uncommon and terrible event.
  14. vacillating
    uncertain in purpose or action
    The poor woman was very vacillating in her repentance. She sometimes begged Justine to forgive her unkindness, but much oftener accused her of having caused the deaths of her brothers and sister.
  15. salubrious
    promoting health
    We passed a fortnight in these perambulations: my health and spirits had long been restored, and they gained additional strength from the salubrious air I breathed, the natural incidents of our progress, and the conversation of my friend.
Created on Thu Jan 08 13:29:58 EST 2015 (updated Mon Jul 07 17:55:03 EDT 2025)

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