The Scarlet Letter

Anonymous
Words I don't know or have questions about from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
46 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. deserts
    an outcome (good or bad) that is well merited
  2. propriety
    correct behavior
  3. prolix
    tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at length
  4. heretofore
    up to this point or up to the present time
  5. truculency
    obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness
  6. progenitor
    an ancestor in the direct line
  7. tempestuous
    characterized by violent emotions or behavior
  8. functionary
    a worker who holds or is invested with an office
  9. vicissitude
    a variation in circumstances or fortune
  10. gouty
    suffering from gout
  11. rheumatic
    of or pertaining to arthritis
  12. verily
    in truth; certainly
  13. advent
    arrival that has been awaited
  14. torpid
    in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
  15. dotage
    mental infirmity as a consequence of old age
  16. invariably
    without change, in every case
  17. unction
    anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual
  18. florid
    elaborately or excessively ornamented
  19. polemical
    of or involving dispute or controversy
  20. philanthropist
    someone who makes charitable donations
  21. gourmand
    a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
  22. subserve
    be helpful or useful
  23. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
  24. fastidious
    giving careful attention to detail
  25. moment
    an indefinitely short time
  26. impunity
    exemption from punishment or loss
  27. vogue
    a current state of general acceptance and use
  28. edifice
    a structure that has a roof and walls
  29. posterior
    located at or near the end of a structure
  30. dearth
    an insufficient quantity or number
  31. chirography
    beautiful handwriting
  32. antiquarian
    of or relating to artifacts or objects from the past
  33. cogitate
    consider carefully and deeply
  34. propensity
    a natural inclination
  35. hitherto
    up to this point; until the present time
  36. indefatigable
    showing sustained enthusiasm with unflagging vitality
  37. twit
    harass with persistent criticism or carping
  38. illusive
    based on or having the nature of a fantasy
  39. anthracite
    a hard natural coal that burns slowly and gives intense heat
  40. avail
    be of use to, be useful to
  41. susceptibility
    the state of being easily affected
  42. pith
    spongelike central cylinder of the stems of flowering plants
  43. incumbent
    necessary as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
  44. lucubration
    laborious cogitation
  45. predilection
    a predisposition in favor of something
  46. prolixity
    boring verbosity
Created on Wed Oct 13 23:31:14 EDT 2010 (updated Wed Oct 13 23:37:47 EDT 2010)

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