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1006 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abashed
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humiliated; lowered in rank, presige, or esteem
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abate
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lessen in degree, reduce
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abhorrence
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looked at or felt with disgust, horror; shunned or rejected with scorn or fear
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abide
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put up with, tolerate
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abode
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home place where a person lives or stays
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abomination
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disgusting thing; something to be looked at with great dislike, disgust or horror
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abstruse
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hard to get the sense of, difficult to understand or comprehent; hidden away, recondite
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abyss
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deep hole; bottomless pit of hell
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accord
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be in harmony or agreement with
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accost
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go up and say something to a strange person
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accountable
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responsible, answerable, capable of being explained
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accrued
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increased, become a permanent addition
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accumulate
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get greater by addition; pile up
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acquiescing
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giving agreement, making no protest against; consenting quietly or passively
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acquisition
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prize, gift, something gained
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acrid
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biting, sharp, bitter taste or smell
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acuteness
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sharpness of mind, clear-minded
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adduced
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put forward as an example or authority, for proof or for consideration
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admonished
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warned, told by someone about one's wrongdoing, mildly or kindly but seriously
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adultery
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consenting sexual intercourse between a married person and another person to whom the first person is not married; usually against religious law if not political or social statute. Note: this word never appears in the text of The Scarlet Letter.
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advance
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to go before, ahead of
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advent
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coming, arrival, esp. one of importance
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adverse
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going against one's interests; going in an opposite direction
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afflicted
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in pain with or because of; physical suffering or in distress because of
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agency
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action, being an instrument of, operating through
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agitate
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shake up, disturb, cause to move violently and irregularly
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ails
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wrong with, diseased
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airily
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high in the air, not seriously--there is some implication also of supernatural power (in the air)
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airy
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like or in the air, as light as air, immaterial or without substance or weight
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alacrity
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speed, quickness; eagerness, cheerful willingness
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alchemy, alchemist
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magical power, chemical philosophy of transmutation or changing metals into gold; (alchemist); Parcelsus was the most famous medieval alchemist
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allot
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to parcel out; assign a portion
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alloy
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to mix (a metal) with another one of less value
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alms-house
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poor-house; place where people who cannot support themselves are housed and fed by public charity
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amenable
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controlled by, responsible to authority
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amiss
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improper, wrong, whatever offends
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amplest
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most sufficient or adequate
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analogy
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parallel to, reasoning by like, corresponding qualities
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anathemas
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curses, strong denunciations
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anatto
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variant of annatto, yellow-red dye from a tropical seed
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animadversion
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pointing out bad qualities, hostile criticism
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annihilated
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completely destroyed, put out of existence
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anon
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again; archaic: in a short time, quickly
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anthracite
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hard coal used for stove fuel
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antics
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foolish acts, jumps
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Antinomian
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Religious liberal who believes in individual grace through self-knowledge, not church law or teaching, and thus persecuted by Puritans
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antipathy
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a dislike or aversion; animosity, enmity; (synonym: repugnance)
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antiquarian
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one who studies very old, historic things
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antiquated
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old, having gone out of use
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antique
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very old, of old times
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antiquity
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early times in history
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apartment
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set of rooms; British: flat
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apostle
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religious missionary, ardent supporter
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apothecary
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keeper of medical store, one who supplies medical drugs
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apotheosized
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glorified, exhalted
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appalled
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shocked, dismayed, made pale
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apparition
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strange-looking thing
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appellation
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name or title
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apple-peru
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a weed, originally from tropical America, with white or blue flowers
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appliances
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instruments, things, esp. of household use
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apprehension, apprehensive
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fear; or, understanding or perception in general
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aqua-vitae
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strong liquor such as brandy or whisky
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archaic
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old, ancient, old-fashioned
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arch-fiend
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the devil, Satan
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archive
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library, storehouse of books
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aright
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correctly
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armorial
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having to do with coats of arms
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array
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clothing or armor
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arraying
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dressing, composing
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art
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second person familiar 'are'; also, black art: sorcery, evil, black magic
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ascended
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went up
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ascending
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going up
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ascertain
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get knowledge of, make sure of
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ascetic
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(adj.) self-denying, austere, severe; (noun) one who renounces comforts of life
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askew
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at an angle
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asks permission
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behest
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aspect
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facial expression; appearance to the eye
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asperity
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sharpness, roughness
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attainments
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accomplishments
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attire
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clothing
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audacity
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boldness, bravery, unrestrained impudence
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auditor
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one who hears; a listener
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aught
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archaic: the least bit, anything at all
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augur
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to predict, forecast the future
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auspicious
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favorable; (see inauspicious)
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austerity
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simple, unadorned, with no ornaments
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autumnal
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fall-like in age, old, elderly
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avail
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help, make use of, to be of advantage
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averred
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said that thing is so, affirm
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avowed
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acknowledged openly, said to be the case
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behalf, benefit (not archaic, but more common, behooved)
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beneficence
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between
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bid
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blows, throws
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beadle, town-beadle
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book in Gothic type, with heavy dark strokes, like Olde English
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blasoned
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broom made of a bundle of twigs
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besought
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C
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cadence
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rhythm in sound, going up and down
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calamity
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serious trouble, shocking events
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calculable
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come to decision as to probable events, readily relied on
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cankered
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diseased or corrupted, or spreading it
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capering
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playful leaping like a young goat
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caprice
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impulse, whim, an impulsive change of mind; capricious: fickle, impulsive and unpredictable; wanton, wilful behavior, without rational motivation
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capriole
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playful, goatlike leap in air
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careering
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going quickly or violently, running or moving at full speed, in a rush
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catarrh
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inflammation of the lining of the nose and mouth
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catechism
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book of questions and answers used by the Church to teach a system of Christian belief
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cause of death, ruin, destruction
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bark
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celestial
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pertaining to the sky, heavenly, divine
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centrifugal
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having a tendency away from the center
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chamber
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room, esp. bedroom
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chamber-window
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(upstairs) bedroom window
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chaos
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without any order or form
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charger
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archaic: a platter, a large shallow dish
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chased
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decorated with engraving or embossing
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cheery
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in good spirits, happy
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chest; breasts of female or mother; body near heart, center of emotion
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brat
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chink
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crack, narrow opening
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chirography
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writing with a pen
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chirurgical
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surgical
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choleric
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easily angered
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church usher, official whose duty it was to keep order
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beckoning
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cicerone
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a tourist guide
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circuit
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circle
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circumference
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outline of circle, distance around
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clamor
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big noise, protest
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clangor
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loud, metallic sounds
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clarion
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trumpet
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clench
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tightly shut
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clew
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clue, something that guides to the solution of a problem or mystery
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cloister
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monastery, place of secluded study
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close
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ending; but also, narrow passageway or alley (now chiefly British); neighborhood of a church or other building
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coadjutors
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workers along with a person; assistants
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cogitating
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thinking, pondering
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colloquy
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a talk between persons
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commodiousness
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comfort in spaciousness
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commodity
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anything that can be traded
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communed
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communicated quietly
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communion
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union, shared feeling or place
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compass
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range, distance around
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compeers
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equals (persons)
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compliance
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as ordered or requested
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comports
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behaves
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comprehension, comprehended
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understanding; comprehend: see clearly in a wide range
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conceits
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strange comparisons or ideas
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concoct
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make, mix
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concord
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harmony, agreement between two aspects
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condescension
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recognition
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confer
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give, consult, make conference with
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confidant
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one to whom secrets or private matters are told or confided; (female, confidante)
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confinement
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imprisonment; also, lying-in, period of time around childbirth when mother lies in bed separate from other people (according to the OED, that euphemism was not yet in common use in 1600s-- term was "bands", or "Our Lady's bands", while "confinement" is a euphemism cited from 1774 and was popular in Hawthorne's Victorian times)
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confusing, perplexing, uncertain
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baggage
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congregated
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grouped together
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conjectural
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conclusion inferred from incomplete evidence
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conjoined
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joined, joined together, united
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conjunction
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state of being joined; simultaneous occurrence in time or space
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conjuration
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magic spell; also, solemn invocation or appeal
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conscious
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aware of
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consciousness
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awareness, understanding
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consecrated, consecration
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given up to God, declared or set apart as sacred
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considerable
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big, a lot of, large in amount
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consigned
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given over to
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consolation, consolations
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comforting, solace
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consternation
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great surprise and fear; sudden confusion or amazement
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constitution
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makeup, how put together of parts
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constraining, constrained
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limited, restricted; forced, not natural
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consummation
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fulfillment, ultimate end or goal, made complete
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contadina
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Italian peasant girl; masculine = contadino; plural = contadini
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contagion
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poision, bad influence that spreads rapidly
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contiguity, contiguous
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joining, touching
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contingency
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happening, occurence, esp. by chance
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contortions
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twisted out of normal form
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contrive
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devise with cleverness, fabricate
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contumely
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rough, rude, haughtily contempuous language or treatment
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conversant (with)
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having knowledge of or about
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convulsed, convulsive
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violent, uncontrolled movement of muscles
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cope
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coping, top part of a wall
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cordial
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liqueur
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countenance, countenanced
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(noun) face, facial expression, aspect; (verb) to condone, to approve (cliche: out of countenance = visibly upset or embarrassed)
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countenanced
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supported or encouraged in belief
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covering made of cloth made stiff with paste
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burdock
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craftily
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falsely, not straightforwardly
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crave
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beg, want greatly, desire
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credibility
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possibility of being believed in
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creed
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short statement of belief in Christian church
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culprit
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person caught violating the law
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cumbrous
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bulky, hard to handle
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cut
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clothing design
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dame
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married woman
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dank
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wet, unhealthy
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darksome
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dark, somber
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dauntless
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bold, not capable of being discouraged, fearless
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deacon
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man who helps minister in church functions
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dearth
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scarcity, lack, shortage
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decapitated
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head cut off; fired from job; [note: fake decapitation tricks were common in traveling magic shows in Hawthorne's time]
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decease
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death
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decorous
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proper, appropriate, polite
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decorum
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appropriate, polite behavior
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decrepit
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broken down, old and weak
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decried
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condemned, disapproved of
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deem
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consider, believe
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defrauding
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taking away from, especially by cheating
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defunct
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dead
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degenerate
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lost quality, gone down hill
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deleterious
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having a harmful effect
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dell
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small hollow with trees, usually secluded
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delusive
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having the nature of a delusion or false belief
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delved
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archaic word for dug
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demeanour
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behavior, way he handles himself, conduct
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demerits
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faults, offenses, defects
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demonstration
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public display
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denizens
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animals living in that place
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denoted
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indicated, served as a direct sign of
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deportment
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conduct, demeanor, bearing, behavior
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depravity
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moral corruption
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depredations
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plunder, preying on
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deserts
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deserved result, reward or punishment
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design
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form a plan for
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desperadoes
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pirates, dangerous criminals
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despondency
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feeling without hope, depression from lack of courage
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despots, despotic
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ruler with absolute power
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detriment
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harm, damage
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device
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in heraldry, a graphic motto or symbol
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devoid
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without, empty, lacking
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devout
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deeply religious
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diabolical
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devilish
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diffused
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spread out
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dilapidated
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ruined, decayed, fallen down
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disapprobation
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disapproval
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disastrous
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causing disaster, evil influence, esp. supernatural (from the Greek word for 'star')
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discern
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to perceive differences; to make distinctions
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disclaim
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deny (responsibility for)
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disclosure
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revealing, revelation, opening up to public view
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discourse
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formal, long, discussion of a subject
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disdainful
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scorning, looking down on, with contempt
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disporting
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playing
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disposition
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mood, (likely) pattern of behavior, attitude
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disquietude
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state of worry, uneasiness
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dissolute
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lacking in moral restraint
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distracted
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unsettled, pulled in opposite emotional directions
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diversify
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vary, mix in
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divine
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minister, clergyman, theologian; (maybe there is a hint of sarcasm sometimes, of the man who pretends to compare to God)
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doing good, acting kindly, charity
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benevolence, benevolent
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domain
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owned area, place, home
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domestic
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private, home, family
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dost
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do (second person singular present tense)
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dotage
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senile, state of feeble-minded old person
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draught
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draft, a drink
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drearier
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dismal, boring, bleaker
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dress or ornament in a loud or bad way
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begs leave
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dryad
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wood nymph, a nature divinity in Greek mythology
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due
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at the right time
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dusky
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dark, in shadow, without adequate light
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dynasty
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source of ultimate power, succession of rulers in a kingdom
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early
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betoken
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earnest
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serious, grave, sincere
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eccentricity
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deviation from the normal; oddity
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ecstasy
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intense joy
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edifice
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building
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effected
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made, brought about; (not to be confused with 'affected' = influenced)
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effervescence
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bubbling, high spirits
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efficacy
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(noun) power to produce desired effect; ability to achieve results; (adj.) efficacious: effective, capable of producing desired effect
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effusion, effluence
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pouring out, flood
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ejaculation
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outburst, exclamation
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ejectment
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firing, forcefully thrown out
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eldritch
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weird, eerie, supernatural, ghastly; an eldritch scream is unnerving and makes chills go up and down your spine; an Eldritch Press would sound much like that, like a bearing going bad on a disk drive, if you could hear it operate; also, a frequent mispronunciation of that dreadful surname, "Eldred," always feared in e-mail message headers
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elf
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mischievous child or small creaure believed to have magical powers
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Elizabethan
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of the period of Elizabeth I, queen of England (1558-1603)
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emaciated
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thin, haggard, gaunt
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embowed
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arched, like a bow
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embroidery
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ornamental work sewing with needle and thread
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eminence
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height, commanding place higher than surrounding
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emissary
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ambassador, secret agent
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emolument
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profit derived from office or employment
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encumbrance
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burden, heavy weight
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endowment
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natural gift or ability
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enervating
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weakening, lessening of strength
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engraved
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written in stone or metal, so as to be permanent
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engrossed
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written in large, clear, words
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enigma
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mystery, ambiguous or inexplicable riddle
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enjoined
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commanded by authority
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enmity
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deep-seated hatred, antagonism
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entreat
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plead, make an earnest request for
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enumerated
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numbered
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epoch
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time, particular period of history
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ere
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before in time
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erudite
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(adj.) deeply learned; showing extensive knowledge; sagacious; (noun) erudition: deep and extensive learning, profound knowledge
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escutcheon
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shield bearing a coat of arms
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esoteric
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confidential, within a small circle
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essayed
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tried, attempted
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estate
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landed property
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esteem
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consider, have an opinion
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estranged
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removed, made a stranger
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etherealized
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(adj.) heavenly, delicate, intangible, spiritual; (verb) etherealize: to spiritualize
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eulogium
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eulogy, speech of great praise
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evanescent
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fleeting, likely to vanish; transitory
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evaporated
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come to nothing, turned to a gas
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eventide
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evening
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ever
|
always
|
|
|
evoked
|
called forth
|
|
|
exchange of goods, trade
|
battery
|
|
|
exemplary
|
(adj.) serving as a model, commendable; (noun) exemplar: model
|
|
|
exhilarating, exhilaration
|
stimulating, made free or strong
|
|
|
exhort
|
strongly encourage
|
|
|
exigencies
|
great needs, pressing requirements
|
|
|
expatiate
|
talk at long length
|
|
|
expiation
|
making payment for some wrong, esp. by undergoing punishment
|
|
|
expostulation
|
demand, attempt to persuade or change another person's behavior
|
|
|
expunge
|
erase, strike out
|
|
|
extinguished
|
eclipsed, obscured
|
|
|
extravagant
|
unrestrained, growing beyond reasonable bounds
|
|
|
extremity
|
end, far point
|
|
|
faculty
|
power of mind or body (often plural)
|
|
|
fain
|
(adverb) preferably, gladly, willingly
|
|
|
faint
|
weak
|
|
|
fame
|
good name, reputation
|
|
|
familiarity
|
intimately, as closely acquainted, as members of the same family
|
|
|
fantastic
|
unreal, based on fantasy; extravagant, ingenious
|
|
|
farthingale
|
skirt hoop fashionable in that day
|
|
|
fathomless
|
so deep that it cannot be measured
|
|
|
feigned
|
pretended
|
|
|
fervently
|
with burning, strong feelings
|
|
|
festal
|
as in a feast, festive
|
|
|
festoon
|
string held up between two points as in a garland
|
|
|
fidelity
|
being true
|
|
|
field sable
|
heraldic term for a black shield
|
|
|
fiend
|
devil, very cruel person
|
|
|
filial
|
son-like, responsibility as a son or younger dependent person
|
|
|
fire-water
|
alcoholic drinks particularly intoxicating to Native Americans because of their lack of enzymes to digest alcohol.
|
|
|
flannel
|
soft woven cloth of wool or cotton
|
|
|
flit
|
moving like a bird, darting rapidly from place to place
|
|
|
flush
|
blush, red in face
|
|
|
folio
|
large book, about 15 inches in size
|
|
|
foolscap
|
large sheet of writing paper, about twice the width of a letter sheet
|
|
|
forbearance, forborne
|
holding back comment, restraint, tolerance
|
|
|
foreboded, foreboding
|
sense of impending evil, ominous
|
|
|
forenoon, meridian
|
morning, time before noon or mid-day; an hour past meridian would be one hour after the sun was at its highest, or one o'clock
|
|
|
form
|
appearance
|
|
|
former, old, past, historic
|
|
|
|
forsooth
|
archaic: indeed
|
|
|
forthwith
|
now, right away, without delay
|
|
|
fortified
|
made stronger
|
|
|
foundered
|
sank or sunk
|
|
|
fourscore
|
eighty (four times a score, which is twenty years)
|
|
|
frailty
|
readiness to give way to wrong impulses
|
|
|
frame
|
body
|
|
|
frank
|
honest, sincere, open
|
|
|
frantic
|
anxious, nervous, emotionally out of control
|
|
|
freak
|
monster or very unusual thing
|
|
|
freight, freighted
|
verb: to load with goods to be transported
|
|
|
fretted
|
gnawed or worn away by nervous movements
|
|
|
fringed
|
sewn fringes on
|
|
|
frisking
|
leaping, dancing in playful way
|
|
|
futurity
|
future, time to come
|
|
|
gable-peaks
|
triangular end sections of a building wall, between the pitched roof lines and the ridge pole
|
|
|
gait
|
peculiar way of moving
|
|
|
galliard
|
archaic: lively and happy, as in a popular dance of the time by that name
|
|
|
garb
|
clothing, esp. a distinctive form of dress
|
|
|
gat
|
Archaic: past tense of 'get'
|
|
|
Geneva
|
black academic cloak with wide sleeves worn by Puritan ministers in style of Calvin of Geneva
|
|
|
genial
|
friendly, kindly, pleasant
|
|
|
germ
|
seed, early stage of life
|
|
|
gesticulation, gesticulating
|
making gestures, emphatic hand or body motions
|
|
|
ghastly
|
frightening, terrifyingly horrible, like a ghost or corpse
|
|
|
gibe
|
making sport, usually with unkind words
|
|
|
gild, gilded
|
gold, make gold, bright
|
|
|
give; give as gift; use
|
bethought
|
|
|
given
|
said, ascribed, submitted for acceptance
|
|
|
glimmer, glimmered, glimmering
|
faint, intermittent light; flickering
|
|
|
gorgeous
|
magnificent, brilliant, dazzlingly beautiful
|
|
|
gossip
|
archaic word for kinsman, close friend, or godparent
|
|
|
got in the way of, stopped
|
balm
|
|
|
gouty
|
sick with the disease gout, which causes pain in joints
|
|
|
grassy-margined
|
grass at edges
|
|
|
gratuitous
|
iunearned, unnecessary, unjustified
|
|
|
grievous
|
causing pain, serious
|
|
|
grimace
|
(verb) to contort the face to show pain, etc.; (noun) facial contortion to show pain, disgust, etc.
|
|
|
gripe
|
grip, hold
|
|
|
grisly
|
causing fear or repugnance
|
|
|
grossness
|
coarseness, unrefined, vulgar
|
|
|
grotesque
|
thing of strange or unnatural form
|
|
|
grovelled
|
got down on one's face to show great fear to someone else, making a low opinion of oneself
|
|
|
guise
|
outward appearance
|
|
|
gules
|
heraldic term for red
|
|
|
habituated
|
got used to
|
|
|
haggard
|
very tired-looking, with lined, worried face
|
|
|
hap
|
luck, by chance
|
|
|
harassed
|
annoyed, troubled again and again
|
|
|
harrowed
|
gave pain to feelings
|
|
|
haughty
|
stiff, high, with a good opinion of oneself and looking down on others
|
|
|
heraldic, herald
|
related to heraldry, which keeps track of families and their coats of arms
|
|
|
hermitage
|
place where a hermit lives, cabin away from others
|
|
|
heterodox
|
disagreeing with some church belief, or just having different beliefs, unorthodox
|
|
|
heterogeneous
|
mixed, having different ingredients
|
|
|
hieroglyphics
|
writing in pictures, hard to understand
|
|
|
hither
|
toward, to the place of the speaker
|
|
|
hoary-bearded
|
with a beard white from age
|
|
|
horn-book
|
a book to teach children to read, formerly one page covered with clear horn
|
|
|
humors
|
amusements, whims
|
|
|
humorsome
|
comical
|
|
|
hussy
|
immoral or mischievous woman
|
|
|
hypocrite
|
insincere person, falsely making oneself seem better
|
|
|
idolized
|
gave over-great love to
|
|
|
ignominious
|
deserving shame; despicable, degrading; (see ignominy)
|
|
|
ignominy
|
bad name, dishonor, infamy, disgrace, shame
|
|
|
ill-omened
|
marked by signs of bad luck
|
|
|
illumination, illumined
|
light, gave light to
|
|
|
imbibed, imbibes, imbibing
|
took in (drink, ideas)
|
|
|
imbue
|
stain, spread all the way through
|
|
|
imminent
|
near, ready to take place, threatening
|
|
|
immoral woman
|
balked
|
|
|
imparted, imparting
|
gave
|
|
|
impediment, impeded
|
holding back, block
|
|
|
impelled
|
drove forward, forced
|
|
|
imperative
|
necessary to be done right away
|
|
|
imperceptibly
|
not noticed because so small or slow
|
|
|
imperious
|
with an air of authority
|
|
|
impiety
|
lacking reverence or respect
|
|
|
impiously irreverent; something said or sworn without respect, especially for God
|
blight
|
|
|
implore, beg for, make a strong request for
|
besmirch
|
|
|
import
|
sense, meaning
|
|
|
importunately
|
making strong and frequent requests
|
|
|
imposed
|
put on, passed off as
|
|
|
impropriety
|
something improper or inappropriate
|
|
|
impunity
|
without fear of ending or harm
|
|
|
in vain
|
without success
|
|
|
inalienable
|
inseparable; incapable of being transferred or lost
|
|
|
inarticulate
|
not clearly spoken
|
|
|
inauspicious
|
ill-omened; unfavorable
|
|
|
incited
|
spurred or urged on, put into motion
|
|
|
inclement
|
stormy, unfriendly
|
|
|
inclosure
|
variant of "enclosure," something closed in, confined, or surrounded
|
|
|
incoherent
|
loose; lacking order or cohesion
|
|
|
incommodities
|
disturbing details
|
|
|
incongruity
|
not proper, inharmonious
|
|
|
incumbent
|
in office, holding a position
|
|
|
incurious
|
not curious, indifferent
|
|
|
indefeasible
|
not capable of being undone
|
|
|
inditing
|
writing, writing down
|
|
|
indolent
|
lazy
|
|
|
inducements
|
motives, persuasions
|
|
|
indulgent
|
lenient, tolerant
|
|
|
ineffectual
|
not effective or leading to the desired result
|
|
|
inefficacious
|
not effective or useful for the desired result
|
|
|
inexplicable
|
not capable of being explained or accounted for
|
|
|
inextricable
|
not capable of being untangled, untied, or solved
|
|
|
infamy
|
a bad name, disgrace, an extremely bad thing
|
|
|
infer
|
arrive at a conclusion, by reasoning from evidence
|
|
|
inferred
|
arrived at a conclusion, by reasoning from evidence
|
|
|
infirmity
|
without resolution or determination
|
|
|
inflicted
|
caused, as punishment
|
|
|
infusion
|
pouring in of something, as into the veins
|
|
|
inimical
|
harmful, hostile, unfriendly, malevolent
|
|
|
iniquity
|
wickedness; sin; a grossly immoral act
|
|
|
innate
|
by nature, born with
|
|
|
inopportune
|
inconvenient, at the wrong time
|
|
|
inquietude
|
in a disturbed state
|
|
|
inquisitively
|
curiously, prone to asking questions
|
|
|
inscrutable
|
mysterious, hard to understand
|
|
|
insomuch
|
inasmuch, in the degree of, as far as
|
|
|
instilment
|
instillment, given drop by drop
|
|
|
instruction
|
teaching, order, authoritative advice
|
|
|
insurmountable
|
incapable of being overcome or solved
|
|
|
intercourse
|
connection, dealings
|
|
|
interloper
|
someone from the outside who interferes with a process
|
|
|
intertwined
|
tied together, mutually involved
|
|
|
intervening
|
coming between
|
|
|
interview
|
meeting
|
|
|
intervolutions
|
spiraling folds
|
|
|
intimacy
|
of a personal, private nature
|
|
|
intimate
|
private, personal
|
|
|
intimations
|
suggestions, hints, indirect communications
|
|
|
intricacy, intricacies
|
complex parts
|
|
|
introspection
|
looking inward, self-examination
|
|
|
intuitions
|
insight, knowledge gained without rational thought
|
|
|
inured
|
accustomed to, esp. something undesirable
|
|
|
invested
|
clothed, covered, endowed with
|
|
|
investing
|
clothing, covering
|
|
|
invests
|
endowing with
|
|
|
inveterate, inveterately
|
obstinate, firmly established habit
|
|
|
inviolable
|
secure from assault or violation
|
|
|
invite, order, command, offer
|
birch-bark
|
|
|
irksome
|
annoying, a bother, full of trouble
|
|
|
irksomeness
|
tediousness, weariness
|
|
|
irrefragable
|
impossible to refute or alter
|
|
|
irrevocable
|
unalterable; impossible to take back
|
|
|
irrevocably
|
impossible to change
|
|
|
jet
|
intense black
|
|
|
joint-stool
|
small piece of furniture used for sitting, with legs but no back, made of pieces of wood fitted together; sometimes a term of disparagement
|
|
|
kind, gentle, mild
|
bequeathed
|
|
|
kindled
|
caught fire, lighted, stirred up or aroused
|
|
|
kindly, well-wishing
|
benign
|
|
|
kindred
|
family, relationship, similarity or alikeness
|
|
|
labyrinth
|
maze, intricate structure of passages
|
|
|
languid
|
slow, long
|
|
|
languor
|
weakness of mind or body, lethargy
|
|
|
lapse
|
passage of time, slip, forfeit
|
|
|
large decorative pin
|
brow
|
|
|
late
|
recent, in the period shortly before
|
|
|
latent
|
quality present but not yet active
|
|
|
latitude
|
scope or range, esp. of freedom of action (archaic)
|
|
|
lattice
|
structure of crossed wood strips across window
|
|
|
laudable
|
worthy of praise
|
|
|
lavished
|
spent in great amount, squandered
|
|
|
learned
|
educated
|
|
|
leaves
|
the two sides or leafs of a window that opens to the sides like a book
|
|
|
leech
|
archaic for physician--because of the practice of using bloodsucking worms to take amounts of blood from patients in hopes of some cure--be aware that the word was used like we use "doc," and did not necessarily have a disgusting connotation
|
|
|
lees
|
sediment, more solid leftovers in bottom of [wine] glass
|
|
|
lieu; in lieu of
|
instead of, in place of
|
|
|
ligaments
|
attachments, binding strings
|
|
|
like a plant disease, putting an end to development or hope
|
bodice
|
|
|
limbs
|
arms and legs
|
|
|
listlessness
|
lack of energy (see languor)
|
|
|
little
|
in small, summarized as, as through a telescope
|
|
|
locks
|
curls of hairs
|
|
|
looking-glass
|
mirror
|
|
|
loquacity
|
talking a lot or too much
|
|
|
lot
|
fate, share, way of life
|
|
|
low, rough person; scoundrel, foul-mouthed person
|
black-letter
|
|
|
lucubrations
|
scholarly work -- origin of word indicates work by the light of a lamp
|
|
|
ludicrous
|
something that should be laughed at because foolish
|
|
|
lumber
|
stored furniture or other items
|
|
|
lunacy
|
losing his mind, insanity, foolishness (once thought to be caused by phases of the moon)
|
|
|
lurid
|
shining with a red glow as of fire through smoke, also a horrifying, shocking, or revolting color from yellow to orange
|
|
|
lustre
|
glow of reflected light
|
|
|
luxuriance
|
indulgent, growing profusely or richly
|
|
|
machination
|
act of plotting, hostile intrigue, conspiracy, schemes; (usually plural)
|
|
|
made as headline; set on fire; glowing; lit up
|
blasphemous
|
|
|
made bright by rubbing
|
burrs
|
|
|
magistracy
|
state or office of magistrate
|
|
|
magistrate
|
judge or law enforcement officer
|
|
|
make
|
compel, bring about, cause to happen
|
|
|
making signs to come toward
|
bedizen
|
|
|
malefactress
|
female criminal, woman who has done wrong
|
|
|
malevolence
|
bitter hatred, ill will, wishing (and acting) bad of someone
|
|
|
malice
|
deep desire to see another suffer
|
|
|
malicious
|
deliberate or impulsive desire to do harm
|
|
|
malignant
|
injurious, tending to produce death
|
|
|
malignity
|
instance of malignant or malicious quality or behavior
|
|
|
manifest
|
(adj.) clearly apparent, obvious; (verb) to show, reveal
|
|
|
manifestation
|
demonstration of the existence of something; revelation
|
|
|
manifold
|
many, in various details
|
|
|
manse
|
Scottish word for house of a minister
|
|
|
marble
|
(like) white stone used for statues
|
|
|
margin
|
edge, border
|
|
|
marry
|
archaic exclamation, after Mary, mother of Jesus
|
|
|
marshal
|
arrange and direct so as to be in order
|
|
|
martial
|
warlike
|
|
|
martyrdom
|
suffering and death for a principle or belief
|
|
|
mask
|
now usually spelled 'masque,' a short play with masked actors
|
|
|
master-word
|
key, idea that would control
|
|
|
matronly
|
like a married woman, dignified
|
|
|
meed
|
archaic word for wages or earned reward, recompense
|
|
|
melancholy
|
sad, dark, depressing or depressed
|
|
|
memorials
|
memorandum, written statement of facts
|
|
|
mercenary
|
hired for pay to serve in armed force
|
|
|
meridian
|
noon, highest point of sun in day
|
|
|
Methinks
|
archaic: I believe, it seems to me
|
|
|
metropolis
|
main city (here, Boston)
|
|
|
mien
|
behavior, appearance, expression
|
|
|
mill-pond
|
quiet body of water stored to run a water mill
|
|
|
mimic
|
play, pretend
|
|
|
ministrations
|
aid or service, usually by ministers
|
|
|
misanthropy
|
distrust or hatred of humanity or men
|
|
|
misdemeanours
|
small crimes or misdeeds
|
|
|
mishap
|
happening by bad luck
|
|
|
molested
|
disturbed, annoyed
|
|
|
mollified
|
soothed, softened
|
|
|
momentous
|
important, consequential
|
|
|
monarch's
|
king's
|
|
|
morbid
|
sick, diseased
|
|
|
morions
|
helmets without crests
|
|
|
morsel
|
bite, small piece of food
|
|
|
mortal
|
human being
|
|
|
motto
|
phrase inscribed as a guiding principle
|
|
|
mould
|
mold, form in which to shape something
|
|
|
mouldy, mouldering
|
covered with mold, a fungus growth, and thus old, unused
|
|
|
mountebank
|
trickster, charlatan, impostor
|
|
|
multitudinous
|
great, large
|
|
|
must needs
|
necessarily
|
|
|
muster
|
military gathering, usually for training
|
|
|
mutability
|
capability for change
|
|
|
nasty, ill-mannered, spoiled child; one who is a trouble
|
brazen-clasped
|
|
|
natal
|
birth
|
|
|
naturalized
|
to grow an introduced plant so it becomes as if native
|
|
|
necromancer
|
magician, conjurer; necromancy: black magic, sorcery
|
|
|
needful
|
something needed, wanted, or necessary
|
|
|
nether
|
down below the earth's surface
|
|
|
nigh
|
near
|
|
|
night-hags
|
(female) witches
|
|
|
night-whimseys
|
nightmares, bad dreams
|
|
|
nugatory
|
of little consequence, vain
|
|
|
nuptial
|
wedding, pertaining to marriage
|
|
|
nutriment
|
food, nourishment
|
|
|
oath
|
solemn promise; careless use of sacred name (as by sailors)
|
|
|
obeisance
|
a gesture of respect; a bow
|
|
|
obligations
|
duty, responsibilities, what one is supposed to do, promises or debts
|
|
|
oblivion
|
forgotten, overlooked
|
|
|
obscure
|
dark, indistinct, faint
|
|
|
obtuseness
|
slow, not sharp in understanding
|
|
|
obviated
|
anticipated, prevented, or made unnecessary
|
|
|
ochre
|
clay pigment containing iron ore
|
|
|
odious
|
hated
|
|
|
office
|
function, service, assigned or assumed duty, role, or task
|
|
|
offshoot
|
product, descendant
|
|
|
offspring
|
child; demon offspring = child of Satan and a witch
|
|
|
ominous
|
pertaining to an omen of evil, menacing, alarming
|
|
|
omniscience
|
all-knowing; All High Omniscience = God
|
|
|
opening, gap, hole
|
brig
|
|
|
opportune
|
happening at an appropriate time
|
|
|
optics
|
eyes
|
|
|
orb
|
circle, world, surroundings
|
|
|
ordinances
|
laws, regulations
|
|
|
outlandish
|
strange, foreign, bizarre
|
|
|
outskirt
|
part remote from center; the forest outside town that was thought to live the Devil
|
|
|
overmuch
|
too big an amount
|
|
|
pacify
|
calm, sooth, appease
|
|
|
pall
|
spreading covering, usually associated with gloom, as a cloth over a casket, or a dark cloud
|
|
|
palliate
|
moderate, cover over, lessen in intensity
|
|
|
pallid
|
pale, dull, lacking color
|
|
|
palsied
|
trembling, shaking with a palsy, a nervous condition
|
|
|
panoply
|
full armor
|
|
|
papist
|
Roman Catholic--heretics to the Puritans
|
|
|
parable
|
short fiction that illustrates a moral or religious principle
|
|
|
paramour
|
lover, esp. an adulterous one
|
|
|
parishioner
|
member of a parish, a church for a certain area
|
|
|
parochial
|
relating to a church parish
|
|
|
part of face over eyes
|
buccaneer
|
|
|
passed on, left in a will
|
beseeching
|
|
|
pastime
|
diversion, something amusing that helps to pass the time
|
|
|
pathos
|
emotion of pity or compassion
|
|
|
patriarchal, paternal
|
fatherly; 'patriarchal' implies authority
|
|
|
pauper
|
very poor person
|
|
|
pealing
|
ringing sound or succession of sounds
|
|
|
peculiar
|
strange, different, or odd
|
|
|
peculiarity
|
oddity, quirk, distinguishing characteristic
|
|
|
pelting
|
striking with many missiles
|
|
|
penitence
|
sad, humble feelings of regrets for doing wrong or sin; repenting adds resolve to change
|
|
|
pensiveness
|
sad or dreaming thinking
|
|
|
perchance, peradventure
|
perhaps, by chance, luck (mostly archaic now)
|
|
|
peremptory
|
urgent, commanding, no disagreement allowed
|
|
|
perforce
|
by necessity, no matter what
|
|
|
perilous
|
dangerous
|
|
|
perpetration
|
committing, carrying out, as of a crime
|
|
|
perpetuate
|
to make last forever
|
|
|
perpetuated
|
made to last forever
|
|
|
perplexity
|
bewilderment
|
|
|
persecutor
|
someone who annoys, harrasses, deliberately does harm to another
|
|
|
personage
|
person, esp. important one
|
|
|
pervading
|
present through the whole thing
|
|
|
perverse
|
stubborn, wrong-headed, cranky
|
|
|
perverted
|
twisted, corrupt
|
|
|
pestered
|
annoyed
|
|
|
pestilence
|
disease, esp. devastating and highly contagious
|
|
|
petrified
|
turned to stone
|
|
|
petty
|
small
|
|
|
petulant
|
peevish, insolent, rude
|
|
|
phantasmagoric
|
fantastic, dreamlike imagery
|
|
|
phantoms
|
illusions, dreams, visions
|
|
|
pharmacopoeia
|
book or collection of drugs
|
|
|
phial
|
vial, a shallow jar
|
|
|
physic
|
medicine
|
|
|
physiognomy
|
face; or, art of judging character from facial features
|
|
|
picturesque
|
quaint, charming, pretty as a picture
|
|
|
Pilgrim
|
a pilgrim is one who travels on a religious journey; the Pilgrims were English Puritans who founded the colonies in Massachusetts in the early 1600s.
|
|
|
pillory
|
See stocks
|
|
|
pious
|
sacred, worthy, dutiful
|
|
|
pirate, sea outlaw
|
buckramed
|
|
|
pit
|
the pit = Hell
|
|
|
pith
|
core, important meaning
|
|
|
placidity
|
quietness, complacency
|
|
|
plaintiveness
|
suffering, melancholy
|
|
|
plashy
|
splashing
|
|
|
plebeian
|
(adj.) characteristic of commoners, crude, vulgar, low; (noun) commoner
|
|
|
plumage
|
feathers
|
|
|
podere
|
Italian country estate
|
|
|
polluted
|
dirty, contaminated, defiled
|
|
|
pomp
|
showy display or ceremony
|
|
|
ponderous
|
heavy
|
|
|
port
|
appearance, carriage
|
|
|
portal
|
door
|
|
|
portent
|
omen, something that predicts important event
|
|
|
portico
|
entrance porch supported by columns
|
|
|
posterior to
|
after, later than
|
|
|
posterity
|
descendants, coming generations
|
|
|
potent
|
powerful, has the power to do something
|
|
|
potentate
|
great power or ruler
|
|
|
powdered head
|
in colonial days men wore wigs kept straight with white powder
|
|
|
prattle
|
childish, unimportant talk
|
|
|
precincts
|
within boundaries
|
|
|
precocity
|
exceptionally early development of mature powers
|
|
|
predilections
|
wishes, desires, preferences
|
|
|
predominant
|
main, most common or prevailing
|
|
|
prefigured
|
suggested by an image coming before
|
|
|
prejudices
|
preconceived opinions
|
|
|
premises
|
land and building
|
|
|
presentiments
|
feeling that something (bad) is going to happen
|
|
|
preternatural
|
abnormal, transcending natural order
|
|
|
prickly envelope of fruit that sticks to clothes
|
button, seize by the
|
|
|
prickly herb or weed with sticky burrs
|
burnished
|
|
|
priest
|
authorized, sacred, religious minister; (at that time, Puritan minister as well as Anglican or Catholic)
|
|
|
Prince
|
Prince of the Air = the Devil
|
|
|
pristine
|
in a pure state, uncorrupted, original
|
|
|
prithee
|
archaic, please (I pray you)
|
|
|
probity
|
upright, known to be highly honest
|
|
|
procured
|
got, obtained, bought
|
|
|
proffered
|
offered, presented for accepting
|
|
|
progenitor
|
ancestor, fore-father
|
|
|
projected
|
planned, designed
|
|
|
prolific
|
productive of, fruitful
|
|
|
prolixity
|
great length, tedious
|
|
|
promotion
|
making move ahead or along, advancing, furthering
|
|
|
propagate
|
pass along to offspring
|
|
|
propensity
|
leaning, natural inclination or preference
|
|
|
prophecy
|
prediction of something to come
|
|
|
propinquity
|
nearness in place or time
|
|
|
propounded
|
offered for discussion
|
|
|
proprietor
|
owner (more significantly, but probably only accidentally in this case, one of the legal founders of a colony)
|
|
|
propriety
|
appropriateness, following customs or rules
|
|
|
Providence
|
God's care and guidance
|
|
|
proximity
|
closeness, nearness
|
|
|
pulpit
|
high platform or desk a minister preached from; also, figuratively, the minister's position or office
|
|
|
puny
|
weak
|
|
|
Puritan
|
English Protestant dissenter in 1600s and 1700s who advocated strict religious rules and simplification in churches; some of them became Pilgrims, while others overthrew King Charles I in England
|
|
|
purple, born in the
|
of high rank (from the royal color)
|
|
|
purport
|
purpose, meaning, appearance
|
|
|
quaff
|
drink up rapidly
|
|
|
Quaker
|
member of the Religious Society of Friends, group considered heretic by Puritans
|
|
|
quietude
|
repose, quiet and restful state
|
|
|
quitted
|
left, gone from
|
|
|
rack
|
torture instrument (engine) designed to stretch victim to death
|
|
|
ramparts
|
fortified wall
|
|
|
rank
|
excessively overgrown
|
|
|
rankle, rankling
|
to irritate or make bitter;irritating, festering
|
|
|
ransacked
|
examined carefully and thoroughly
|
|
|
ransomed
|
freed from captivity by payment of a price
|
|
|
rapture, rapturously
|
ecstasy, intense state of being carried away emotionally
|
|
|
ravenous
|
very hungry
|
|
|
rebuke
|
sharp criticism
|
|
|
reciprocated
|
returned (in the same way, kind, or degree)
|
|
|
recompense
|
payment, compensation
|
|
|
recounted
|
told, explained
|
|
|
recreate
|
play, refresh (with connotations of 'create himself anew')
|
|
|
redeem, redemption
|
save, win back, make up for
|
|
|
reduced
|
made more small
|
|
|
reeled
|
staggered, whirl around and around
|
|
|
reflected on; thought about; remembered
|
betimes
|
|
|
regimen
|
healthy plan
|
|
|
rejoined
|
answer, reply
|
|
|
relinquish
|
give up
|
|
|
reminiscences
|
memories, recollections
|
|
|
remonstrance
|
reproof, protest, admonishment
|
|
|
remorse
|
long and bitter self-reproach for the wrongs one has done, esp. those that cannot be made up for
|
|
|
reparation
|
compensation for injury
|
|
|
repel, repelled
|
push back or turn away from
|
|
|
repent, repentance
|
to feel bad about one's past behavior and to decide to change it in the future
|
|
|
repining
|
expressing or feeling discontent, dejection, or wanting something else in life
|
|
|
replete
|
full, complete
|
|
|
repose
|
rest
|
|
|
reprimand
|
sharp rebuke, reproof
|
|
|
reproof
|
correction of a fault, v. 'reprove'
|
|
|
republican
|
federal, U.S.; (the Republican Party did not yet exist)
|
|
|
repudiate
|
refuse to accept, reject as untrue
|
|
|
repugnance
|
arousing loathing or dislike
|
|
|
repute
|
reputation, "fair repute" would be a good reputation. In a shame culture people are defined by how others look at them ("fair" being a light or attractive appearance)
|
|
|
request, order
|
behold
|
|
|
requisite
|
necessary
|
|
|
requite, requited, requital, in requital
|
repay, in return, as payment for
|
|
|
resolve
|
determined, made a decision
|
|
|
resort
|
place to which one goes to do something
|
|
|
retired
|
secluded, away from buildings and people
|
|
|
retribution
|
punishment, payback
|
|
|
revelation
|
showing, discovery, coming to be known
|
|
|
revenue
|
tax, as on trade goods
|
|
|
reverberated
|
echoed
|
|
|
reverend
|
deeply respected, loved
|
|
|
reverential
|
inspiring deference, awe
|
|
|
reviled
|
verbally abused, scolded
|
|
|
revolution
|
overthrow, overturning, complete change; (but 'revolutionary' as in Ch. 12 of The Scarlet Letter means the American Revolution, which began in 1775)
|
|
|
rheumatic flannel
|
cloth worn to keep warm and to avoid pain in joints from the disease rheumatism
|
|
|
riotously
|
in wild profusion
|
|
|
rod
|
stick or twigs used to punish (in Hawthorne's time, it was beginning to be thought too harsh for children--Thoreau quit as a teacher after he used the rod, even though the blows were apparently light, on the hand, and soon forgotten by the misbehaving boy)
|
|
|
rough, crude, rude, offensive
|
bosom
|
|
|
rude
|
rough, coarse
|
|
|
ruff
|
elaborate collar worn all around neck, looks like a big pleated wheel
|
|
|
russet
|
reddish brown or red
|
|
|
rustic
|
plain, country style not city
|
|
|
Sabbath
|
the Puritan holy day of the week, appointed by God for rest, was Sunday
|
|
|
sable, sable-cloaked
|
black, dark-colored, sober, serious in clothing
|
|
|
sad-colored
|
dark
|
|
|
sagacity, sagacious, sagaciously
|
(with) keen intelligence; shrewdness
|
|
|
sagamores
|
chiefs or subchiefs in the Abnaki language and culture
|
|
|
sailing ship with square-rigged sails on the foreward masts and a fore-and-aft sail on the rear mast
|
barter
|
|
|
sailing ship with two masts, both square-rigged, but with also a fore-and-aft sail on stern mast
|
bright-apparelled
|
|
|
sanctified
|
sacred, holy (sometimes Hawthorne uses the term sarcastically, to mean 'sanctimonious,' or hypocritical holiness)
|
|
|
sanctity
|
sacred, godly, holy, consecrated
|
|
|
satiating
|
filling, satisfying to excess
|
|
|
scaffold
|
plaform for hanging condemned prisoners--in this case, also holding the stocks, although in 1642 Boston this was not historically the case
|
|
|
scandal
|
disgrace or moral offense
|
|
|
scarlet
|
red. It could be red in general, but, specifically, a bright red with an orange tinge.
|
|
|
schooner
|
sailing ship with two masts, the one forward shorter than the one to the rear, usually all fore-and-aft sails
|
|
|
scintillating
|
brilliant flashing
|
|
|
scorned
|
looked down upon, with disdain or contempt
|
|
|
scourge
|
(verb) to flog, to whip, to chastise severely; (noun) a whip or any means of inflicting punishment or vengeance
|
|
|
scrutinized
|
looked over with careful attention to small details
|
|
|
scurrilous
|
vulgar or coarse, possibly with obscenities
|
|
|
scurvy
|
disease encountered on long sea voyages of the time, with bleeding into the skin and teeth falling out and even death, later found to be preventable by citrus juice, and even later found to be caused by lack of vitamin C (word was first used in 1565)
|
|
|
scythe
|
mowing tool with sharp blade, used with both hands, as the one carried by Father Time
|
|
|
seclusion
|
solitary, away from being seen by others
|
|
|
sedulous
|
diligent, busy, careful in doing
|
|
|
see
|
behoof
|
|
|
seemly, unseemly
|
fit, proper; unfit, improper
|
|
|
selfsame
|
identical
|
|
|
semblance
|
form, aspect, likeness
|
|
|
sensibility
|
awareness and responsiveness to another's emotion; sensitiveness or taste (important word for Romantics); there is also the element of common sense or level-headedness, so Jane Austen's title 'Sense and Sensibility' is a pun or two
|
|
|
sentiment, sentimental
|
emotion, feeling, or opinion; 'sentimental' is a positive or excess of feeling
|
|
|
sepulchre
|
tomb, grave structure
|
|
|
serf
|
servant (but here more like a feudal slave or bond-servant)
|
|
|
serving-men
|
i.e., serving meals, waiting on table
|
|
|
severed
|
cut or broken off
|
|
|
sexton
|
church official or employee who digs graves, rings bell, and takes care of church property
|
|
|
shield of arms
|
heraldic decorative emblem, a square field on the coat of arms
|
|
|
ship-chandlers
|
one who sells equipment for ships (a chandler is one who makes or sells candles)
|
|
|
shot
|
figurative for things like bullets
|
|
|
shrewd
|
sharp, piercing, looking carefully with intense awareness
|
|
|
shrubbery
|
low woody plants planted in a garden
|
|
|
signification
|
the meaning of a sign, esp. the one it is intended to convey
|
|
|
similitude
|
alike to the eye
|
|
|
simples
|
medicine--usually from one herb or plant
|
|
|
singular, singularity
|
unusual, distinctive or peculiar
|
|
|
sire, grandsire
|
father, grandfather
|
|
|
slumber
|
sleep
|
|
|
smite, smiting, smote, smitten
|
hit, strike a blow with the hand
|
|
|
smooth white skin, like paper, of birch tree
|
blackguard
|
|
|
sobriety
|
moderate, serious, thoughtful character
|
|
|
soil by splashing with a liquid (1640 variant of "spatter")
|
bestow, bestowing
|
|
|
sojourn
|
(noun) temporary stay, brief residence; (verb) to reside temporarily
|
|
|
solace
|
source of relief or freedom from anxiety
|
|
|
sombre
|
somber, dark, gloomy, dismal. Not "sobre"--a spelling Hawthorne never used.
|
|
|
something like a slave; a person who sold his or her services for a period of years without wages, in return for passage to the New World and housing. See a separate page on bond-servant.
|
boon
|
|
|
somnambulism
|
sleep-walking
|
|
|
somniferous
|
causing sleep (humorous)
|
|
|
sooth
|
archaic: true, truly
|
|
|
soothed
|
comforted, brought relief to
|
|
|
sore
|
difficult, hard
|
|
|
sought, looked for
|
bespatter
|
|
|
species
|
kind, sort
|
|
|
spectre, spectral
|
ghost; supernatural, like a ghost
|
|
|
speculation
|
reflection, talk without evidence
|
|
|
sportive
|
playsome, frolicsome
|
|
|
spruce
|
dressed neatly
|
|
|
stain, causes shame or bad reputation
|
besom
|
|
|
staircase rails and supporting posts
|
bandied
|
|
|
stalwart
|
strong, sturdy
|
|
|
steeple-crowned
|
with a crown (the part that fits over the head) high up, like the Pilgrims traditionally wore
|
|
|
sterling
|
of the highest standard (like the precious metal or coin made of silver)
|
|
|
steward
|
on a ship, the employee who looks after passengers
|
|
|
stifling
|
smothering, muffling, repressing, discouraging
|
|
|
stigma
|
mark, brand, esp. of shame
|
|
|
stocks, pillory
|
device usually holding a prisoner's head and hands in public view as shame and punishment (Hawthorne sometimes uses the phrase 'the scaffold of the pillory' or 'platform of the pillory', but the pillory was not placed on the scaffold or gallows at this time in Boston)
|
|
|
stole
|
go quietly, unobserved, as if stealing
|
|
|
stomacher
|
clothing worn around waist, usually highly embroidered or jeweled in front
|
|
|
stop
|
halt, as in the period ('full stop') at the end of a sentence
|
|
|
storey
|
story, rooms on a floor of a building
|
|
|
straitly
|
archaic: rigorously, carefully
|
|
|
strenuously
|
vigorously, zealously
|
|
|
stripes
|
whip blows--they cause striped bruises or cuts
|
|
|
strove
|
struggled, tried hard, attempted (past of 'strive')
|
|
|
stupefied
|
made stupid or groggy
|
|
|
subsequent
|
later, following
|
|
|
subserve
|
serve, be useful for
|
|
|
subtile
|
subtle, elusive, crafty
|
|
|
suffice, suffices, sufficed
|
be enough for, be sufficient
|
|
|
sumptuary regulations
|
laws governing personal or moral behavior, usually excessive spending or clothing, both religious and to preserve class distinctions (however, Puritan ministers did eventually follow the fashion, as with elaborate wigs and ruffs)
|
|
|
sundering
|
splitting apart, break into two
|
|
|
suppressing
|
stopping, checking, arresting
|
|
|
swarm
|
mass of animate things in motion, as a honeybee swarm
|
|
|
sweet oil as medicine to give peace or relief from pain
|
balustrade
|
|
|
taint
|
stain, bad mark
|
|
|
talisman
|
anything having apparently magical properties
|
|
|
taper
|
candle
|
|
|
tarry
|
wait; but 'tarry blackguard' is a bad sailor with tar on his skin
|
|
|
temporal
|
on earth (as opposed to eternal, in heaven)
|
|
|
tenacity
|
firm hold on
|
|
|
tenure
|
terms or period under which a position is held
|
|
|
terminating
|
ending, bringing to a conclusion
|
|
|
thing of great value, favor; blessing
|
boorish
|
|
|
thither, thitherward
|
away from, toward
|
|
|
threshold
|
doorsill or doorway, piece of wood below the door or entry
|
|
|
thrown back and forth in a casual or humorous manner
|
bane
|
|
|
thwarted
|
defeated, frustrated
|
|
|
tidings
|
news, information
|
|
|
tithing-men
|
men who collected taxes for the church
|
|
|
to hold in conversation, as by grabbing someone's coat button so he does not move away
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bygone
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to mean, stand for
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betwixt
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token
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symbol or piece of metal used to represent something else
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tome
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large, scholarly book
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torpid
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sleepy, dormant, hibernating
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torrent
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violent stream of liquid as down a mountain
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tost
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tossed
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trait
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peculiarity, distinguishing quality
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trammelled
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caught as in a net, confined, restrained
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transfiguration
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a change in appearance, usually exalted or glorified
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transformation
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change in form or appearance
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transgress, transgressor, transgressed
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go beyond limit, commit sin or violate law
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transitory
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short, brief
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transporting
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carrying from one place to another; also, carrying away with pleasantly strong emotion
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tread
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follow, walk on, step on, esp. with a heavy step; see p.p., 'trode'
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tremulous
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vibrating, quivering, trembling
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tribunals
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courts, in this probably a religious law case
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trifled
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mocked, treated as insignificant, misled
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trifling
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not significant, not important, small
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triumphant
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winning, successful, victorious
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trode, trodden
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walked (on) with a heavy step (p.p. of tread)
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trow
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think or suppose
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truculency
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ready to fight, belligerent, savage
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trundle-bed
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a simple bed close to the floor, usually one that can slide under another. For Puritans the elaborate master bed was the prominent piece of furniture--all lower people slept closer to the floor.
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tumult
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commotion, hubbub, confusion and uproar of a crowd; a violent outburst
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tunic
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a long slip-on jacket, sometimes with high collar
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type
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pattern, symbol, form, ideal or primary example of that sort
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typify, typified
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represent by an image or mark of the essential characteristics of something
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ulterior
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future, going beyond what is openly said
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ultimately
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in the end
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unaccustomed
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unusual, not in the habit of
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unadulterated
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pure, not mixed with anything else. Adultery is then mixing another's genes into children without maintaining the purity of the marriage partner's genes.
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unamiable
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unfriendly, difficult to deal with
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unattainable
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can't be reached or obtained
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unbenignantly
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unkindly, not mildly
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uncouth
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crude, not polished in manners
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unction
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exaggerated seriousness
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undissembled
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not disguised or hidden under a false appearance
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undulating
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moving like waves, flowing, not at a constant speed or direction
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unerring
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without error or fault
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unflinching
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not moving away from, uncompromising
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ungracious
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rude, disagreeable, or archaic: wicked
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unhallowed
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not holy, immoral
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unison
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in exact harmony, at the same time and with the same musical pitch
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unmalleable
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not capable of being changed
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unobtrusive
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inconspicuous, not obvious
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unprecedented
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without any earlier such examples
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unpremeditated
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not thought through first, not produced deliberately
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unquiet
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agitated, uneasy
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unravelled
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separated
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unsavory
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tasteless, unpleasant, disagreeable
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unscrupulous
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unprincipled, without regard for right conduct
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unseasonable
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at the wrong or inappropriate time
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unthrifty
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growing, but not healthy or vigorous
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untutored
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uneducated in Western ways
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unweariable
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tireless, fresh, not weary
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unwonted
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not habitual; unusual
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upbraided
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reproached, scolded, criticized severely
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urchins
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scamps, mischievous children playing together on the street
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usage
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manner of treating
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valiantly
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bravely, like a hero
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vehemence
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with bitter antagonism, deeply felt emotion, expressed with force
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venerable
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(adj.) worthy of respect; old and respectable; (verb: venerate: to regard with respect, to revere)
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vengeance
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revenge, punishment in return for an injury or offense
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verge
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edge, point at which something is about to happen
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verily, veriest
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truly, certainly; truest
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versed, well versed
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understood, familiar with, skilled, having good knowledge of
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vestment
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clothes, esp. that of a minister
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vexed
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troubled
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vicissitude
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(unexpected) change
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vigil
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a watch kept during normal sleeping hours, especially over a person's body after they have died; also, eve of a religious festival as observed in devotional teaching
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vilified
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slandered, abused, defamed
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vindicate
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confirm, substantiate, justify
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virgin soil
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unused, as vacant land; 'virgins of the church' = young unmarried women or girls
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visage
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the face or facial expression of a person; aspect; iron-visaged = face like the hard metal iron
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visionary
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unreal, like a vision
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vista
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prospect, distant view as along an avenue
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vitiated
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weakened
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vivacity
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lively and quick
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vixenly
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like a female fox, bad-tempered
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vocation
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occupation
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voluminous
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large in size, roomy
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vulgar
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common
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waiving
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forgoing, relinquishing, postponing
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wampum
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string of polished shells used for money, worn as belt or sash by Native Americans, esp. in Massachusetts (the word was used by the Wampanoag tribe and the English in 1636)
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wan
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sickly, weak, pale or faint
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wanted
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lacked, was without
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Wapping
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area (in London) with many docks for ships
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warrant
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guarantee or affirm
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waxing
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increasing, growing
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waywardness
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unpredictability, following its own impulses
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weathercock
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weathervane, often in shape of a rooster, on top of building to show wind direction
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weeds
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black dress worn as sign of mourning at death in family
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well-nigh
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almost, nearly
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wharf
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dock or place where ships load and unload
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whit
|
bit, a very small amount
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wholesome
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healthy, safe, prudent
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wigwam
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rough hut of arched poles covered by hides or reeds (word used by Massachusetts Indians and English in 1628)
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witches
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women supposed to cast spells or deal with the Devil
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with brass locks holding shut
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breach
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with clothing strong and clear in color
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brooch
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withal
|
plus, besides, in addition
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withered
|
shrunken, shriveled, dried up
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wofully
|
as full of woe, dreadfully
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wont
|
usage, custom, habit; (adj.) accustomed to, used to (see also unwonted)
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work-bag
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small bag containing needlework and materials
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worshipful
|
now chiefly British title of respect for the rank of a person
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wot, wottest
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know, have knowledge ('wottest' is the second person, familiar)
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wrath
|
strong anger or punishment
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wreak
|
to inflict vengeance or punishment upon someone (pronounced reek)
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wretched
|
mean, poor, inferior; unhappy, dejected; very bad
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wrought
|
made, fashioned, formed, manufactured
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zealously
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with eagerness, fervor
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zenith
|
point in sky directly overhead
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