Scarlet Letter Vocab

Front 1

cogitate

Back 1

verb
to consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's minds

Front 2

propensity

Back 2

noun
an inclination to do something; aptness; a disposition to behave in a certain way

Front 3

traverse

Back 3

verb
to go to and fro across

Front 4

malleable

Back 4

adjective
capable of being shaped

Front 5

torpid

Back 5

adjective
inactive; dormant

Front 6

congenial

Back 6

adjective
suitable; agreeable

Front 7

augur

Back 7

verb
predict; foretell

Front 8

indubitable

Back 8

adjective
certain; without doubt

Front 9

scourge

Back 9

verb
whip; punish (same root as excoriate)

Front 10

bodice

Back 10

noun
the part of a woman's dress above the waist

Front 11

abash

Back 11

verb
disconcert; destroy the self-confidence of

Front 12

evanescent

Back 12

adjective
fleeting; tending to vanish

Front 13

iniquity

Back 13

noun
wickedness; sin; violation of right or duty

Front 14

pillory

Back 14

noun
wooden framework with holes for head and hands

Front 15

countenance

Back 15

noun
expression on a face; bearing

Front 16

visage

Back 16

noun
face; features; countenance

Front 17

abate

Back 17

verb
reduce in degree(or amount)

Front 18

sojourn

Back 18

noun; verb
temporary stay

Front 19

irk

Back 19

verb
exasperate; irritate; annoy

Front 20

sagacity

Back 20

noun
having keen mental discernment; shrewd

Front 21

obstinate

Back 21

adjective
stubbornness

Front 22

tremulous

Back 22

adjective
characterized by trembling, as from fear, nervousness, or weakness

Front 23

momentous

Back 23

adjective
of great importance, consequence, or moment

Front 24

plaintive

Back 24

adjective
melancholy; mournful

Front 25

lurid

Back 25

adjective
shining with an unnatural glow

Front 26

amenable

Back 26

adjective
willing to agree or yield

Front 27

draught

Back 27

noun
a drink or dose

Front 28

efficacy

Back 28

noun
ability to have the desired result of effect

Front 29

epoch

Back 29

noun
distinctive period

Front 30

inquest

Back 30

noun
investigation or examination

Front 31

paramour

Back 31

noun
illicit lover

Front 32

purge

Back 32

verb
rid of impurities

Front 33

sable

Back 33

adjective
black

Front 34

progenitor

Back 34

noun
biologically related ancestor

Front 35

plebeian

Back 35

adjective
common; of the common people

Front 36

commiserate

Back 36

verb
sympathize with; pity

Front 37

subsistence

Back 37

noun
of basic living or existence

Front 38

ascetic

Back 38

adjective; noun
adj: austere, simple, nonmaterialist
noun: person who practices self-denial for religious reasons

Front 39

penance

Back 39

noun
voluntary self-punishment in order to aton sfor some wrongdoing

Front 40

succor

Back 40

verb
to help in a difficult situation; to give aid or relief

Front 41

imbibe

Back 41

verb
to drink; to take in liquids; to absorb or take in

Front 42

guise

Back 42

noun
false appearance; pretense

Front 43

talisman

Back 43

noun
amulet; an object thought to be magical or to be a protection against evil

Front 44

infernal

Back 44

adjective
relating to or inhabiting hell; demonic, cruel, hellish

Front 45

inscrutable

Back 45

ajective
incapable of being analyzed and understood; obscure, cryptic

Front 46

procure

Back 46

verb
to obtain or acquire

Front 47

gesticulation

Back 47

noun
a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion

Front 48

pristine

Back 48

adjective
pure, fresh, or clean as new; unspoiled; immaculate

Front 49

tunic

Back 49

noun
any of a variety of loose fitty cloaks extending to the hips or knees

Front 50

urchin

Back 50

noun
a small, mischievous child; a scamp

Front 51

perpetuate

Back 51

verb
to cause to continue

Front 52

ruff

Back 52

noun
a wheel-shaped collar popular in the late 16th-early 17th centuries. made of very fine fabrics and sometimes edged with lace

Front 53

sunder

Back 53

verb
to tear or break apart, usually violently

Front 54

alchemy

Back 54

noun
a protoscientific or occult practice seeking the transmutation of base metal into either gold or silver

Front 55

incantation

Back 55

noun
a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect

Front 56

emaciated

Back 56

adjective
very thin, especially from disease or hunger; physically wasted

Front 57

palliate

Back 57

verb
to reduce in severity if; to relieve

Front 58

pall

Back 58

noun
a cover, as of fog or cloud, causing darkness

Front 59

erudite

Back 59

adjective
having or showing profound knowledge

Front 60

despondent

Back 60

adjective
disheartened, dejected; feeling hopeless

Front 61

auspicious

Back 61

adjective
attended by favorable circumstances; tending toward good luck

Front 62

acquiesce

Back 62

verb
to accept, comply, or submit, usually tacitly or passively; to give in to another's demand or request

Front 63

reciprocate

Back 63

verb
to give something in return

Front 64

columbine

Back 64

noun
wildflowers known for thier distinctive blooms, generally bell-shaped, with spurs on each petal

Front 65

sentinel

Back 65

noun
a lookout; one who watches or stands guard

Front 66

imperious

Back 66

adjective
arrogant; domineering; overbearing

Front 67

comport

Back 67

verb
to behave well or properly

Front 68

obeisance

Back 68

noun
dutiful or submissive behavior; a sign of reverence, submission, or shame

Front 69

effervescent

Back 69

adjective
bubbling; marked by high spirits or excitement

Front 70

jocular

Back 70

adjective
characterized by jesting and good humor

Front 71

scurvy

Back 71

noun
a disease caused by deficiency of vitamin c, characterized by spongy and bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin and extreme weakness

Front 72

swarthy

Back 72

adjective
dark-skinnned

Front 73

consummate

Back 73

verb
to bring to completion, perfection, or fulfillment

Front 74

stigma

Back 74

noun
a sign or symbol of disgrace or infamy

Front 75

etheral

Back 75

adjective
(1)very delicate or highly refines; (2)very light, airy, or insubstantial; (3)belonging to the heavens or the elestial sphere