Crime and Punishment Part 6 & Epilogue, Pevear and Volokhonsky trans.

MJKubus (United States of America)
Note word meanings, of course, and pay attention to the word origins. Sometimes, they're interesting and helpful.Click a word for explanation, usage notes, etc. When I don't like vocabulary.com's definition, I use the Oxford Dictionary: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/The page number listed for each word is probably the page number I take the Crime and Punishment sentences from. (Note the word probably.)
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. revulsion
    intense aversion
    I hug the crypt-pocked walls, swallowing my revulsion at the reek of rotting bones.
    441

    word origin: Mid 16th century (in revulsion (sense 2)): from French, or from Latin revulsio(n-), from revuls- ‘torn out’, from the verb revellere (from re- ‘back’ + vellere ‘pull’). revulsion (sense 1) dates from the early 19th century.
  2. remorse
    a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
    Perhaps that’s appropriate: The department’s guidelines state that pardon applicants should show remorse and atonement for their actions.
    442

    word origin: Late Middle English: from Old French remors, from medieval Latin remorsus, from Latin remordere ‘vex’, from re- (expressing intensive force) + mordere ‘to bite’.
  3. marvel
    something that causes feelings of wonder
    In a talk with the New York Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin, he marveled at the accomplishments of LBJ’s Great Society.
    442

    word origin: Middle English (as a noun): from Old French merveille, from late Latin mirabilia, neuter plural of Latin mirabilis ‘wonderful’, from mirari ‘wonder at’.

    Good name for a comic book company.
  4. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
    The Dodgers devote themselves to depth with an ardor that borders on fanaticism.
    444

    word origin: Late Middle English: via Old French from Latin ardor, from ardere ‘to burn’.
  5. sham
    something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
    The bureau levied the biggest fine in its history against Wells Fargo for the sham accounts.
    445

    word origin: Late 17th century: perhaps a northern English dialect variant of the noun shame.
  6. presumptuous
    going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
    Life soon launched me an opportunity to test my presumptuous hypothesis.
    452
  7. disavow
    refuse to acknowledge
    Various Latin American governments and the Venezuelan opposition disavowed the possibility of a U.S. military strike in Venezuela.
    454
  8. schism
    division of a group into opposing factions
    He also noted that the cultural schism in America wasn't necessarily about the middle of the country versus the coasts.
    454

    word origin: Late Middle English: from Old French scisme, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek skhisma ‘cleft’, from skhizein ‘to split’.
  9. susceptible
    yielding readily to or capable of undergoing a process
    We are all terribly susceptible to what psychologists call confirmation bias.
    455
  10. oration
    an instance of formal speaking
    After Hammond’s messianic oration, which ends with her booming refusal to be silenced, there is thunderous applause.
    460
  11. empathy
    understanding and entering into another's feelings
    This echoes work from Britain showing that anti-immigrant sentiment is lower in areas where there are more migrants: greater exposure fosters empathy.
    460. Read Empathy versus sympathy on the webpage, right column.

    word origin: Early 20th century: from Greek empatheia (from em- ‘in’ + pathos ‘feeling’) translating German Einfühlung.
  12. ticklish
    difficult to handle; requiring great tact
    “Sweat,” in this case, is just a ticklish synonym for “steam.”
    462
  13. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
    Ho was prosecuted because he did not obtain explicit permission to share "sensitive" nuclear technologies.
    462
  14. ruddy
    inclined to a healthy reddish color
    Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf, a ruddy stellar runt shining with only about a thousandth the brilliance of our far larger yellow star.
    465
  15. lackey
    a servile or submissive follower
    “I request that you — not some lackey — write personally to every person on this flight with a full explanation,” she wrote.
    465
  16. gourmand
    a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
    Apicius, the first-century Roman gourmand and author, is credited with the aphorism: “The first taste is always with the eyes.”
    469
  17. abide
    put up with something or somebody unpleasant
    Stem Cell said it would abide by the new rules the agency is developing for the field.
    470
  18. mystic
    relating to immediate spiritual intuition of truths
    Millions of Pakistanis follow Sufism, a mystic branch of Islam overtaken recently by more conservative and hard-line versions of the faith.
    471
  19. aesthetics
    the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste
    New carpet, flooring, furniture or a new coat of paint improves aesthetics.
    471
  20. paltry
    contemptibly small in amount or size
    I lick my lips, already thirsty, and hunch beneath the paltry shade of the Jack tree to consider my predicament.
    472
  21. swinish
    ill-mannered and coarse and contemptible in behavior or appearance
    He spends all; he contents himself with refuse; is more heathenish than the heathen themselves; swinish in his habits.
    472
  22. enamored
    marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
    Richard grew enamored of film, especially westerns, as a way to escape the financial pressures facing his family.
    473
  23. gruff
    blunt and unfriendly or stern
    Though their rap voices were gruff with urban aggression, their words were heartfelt and sentimental.
    474
  24. martyr
    one who suffers for the sake of principle
    So what seems like an imploding presidency to some, appears as a heroic martyr against liberalism to others.
    475
  25. sensual
    marked by the appetites and passions of the body
    It was hard to remember in the heady and sensual clarity of these mornings; I forgot whom I hated and who hated me.
    475
  26. candor
    the quality of being honest and straightforward
    Last month, Clinton’s publishers Simon & Schuster promised the new memoir would offer unprecedented candor and insight into the 2016 race.
    476
  27. prostrate
    lie face downward, as in submission
    He was then forced to prostrate himself before a picture of King Bhumibol and apologize while bystanders cursed and threatened to kill him.
    476
  28. succumb
    give in, as to overwhelming force, influence, or pressure
    But we, the people, can’t succumb to such disgraceful entreaties.
    476
  29. denounce
    accuse or condemn openly as disgraceful
    But the sheriff’s critics were quick to denounce him.
    487
  30. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
    One of the recurring elements of Kiwami is Majima, an eccentric yakuza leader whose taste in fashion leans towards eye patches and animal prints.
    502
  31. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
    It’s also difficult to discern quarterback talent from receiving talent and scheme.
    503
  32. rogue
    a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
    They didn’t want to attack the state, as Escobar did with cartel gunmen and rogue police, they wanted to be the state.
    505
  33. scurry
    rushing about hastily in an undignified way
    Instead, ants scurrying about on the surface get attached and thereby thicken the tower at all layers.
    506
  34. sumptuous
    rich and superior in quality
    He chose Versailles, the sumptuous former palace of France's kings, to host Russian President Vladimir Putin on a visit last month.
    506
  35. fumble
    make one's way clumsily or blindly
    She fumbles to break the silence that’s descended.
    507
  36. appease
    make peace with
    Mirik Milan, 36 and a former nightclub promoter, was elected in 2012 and tasked with sustaining Amsterdam’s night life while still appeasing local residents.
    516

    Know this definition: Pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands
  37. snivel
    cry or whine with snuffling
    Clark Kent’s been a snivelling nebbish and a cheerful yuppie; Batman’s been a campy goofball and a heartless incompetent ass.
    520
  38. retinue
    the group following and attending to some important person
    The P1A is geared primarily towards professional athletes, such as jockeys, and a small retinue of helpers.
    523
  39. frivolous
    not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
    OK, so a robot Armageddon might not be exactly frivolous, but these stories, for all that they draw on deep-seated human fears, are ultimately entertainment.
    536
  40. inculpate
    suggest that someone is guilty
    Still nothing has transpired to inculpate any one, or, in the finding of a Coroner’s jury, connect man or woman with it.
    536

    word origin: Late 18th century: from late Latin inculpat- ‘made culpable’, from the verb inculpare, from in- ‘upon, towards’ + culpare ‘to blame’ (from culpa ‘fault’).
Created on Sat Oct 07 09:46:09 EDT 2017

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