Scarlet Letter Vocab ch1-10

Question 1

edifice

Answer 1

noun

a building of large size or imposing appearance

any large, complex system or organization

Question 2

congenial

Answer 2

adjective

agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character

compatible, well-suited

Question 3

inauspicious

Answer 3

adjective

boding ill

ill-omened

unfavorable

Question 4

physiognomy

Answer 4

noun

the face or countenance

the outward appearance of anything

insight to a character

Question 5

magistrate

Answer 5

noun

a civil officer charged with the administration of the law

a minor judicial officer

Question 6

impropriety

Answer 6

noun

the quality or condition of being improper

incorrect; inappropriateness

Question 7

rotundity

Answer 7

noun

the condition or quality of being round or plump

fullness in speech or tone

Question 8

malefactress

Answer 8

noun

a woman who violates the law or does evil

Question 9

sumptuary

Answer 9

adjective

pertaining to or regulating expense or expenditure

intended to regulate personal habits on moral or religious grounds

Question 10

evanescent

Answer 10

adjective

vanishing; fading away

scarcely perceptible

Question 11

ignominy

Answer 11

noun

disgrace; dishonor

public contempt

a shameful or dishonorable quality

Question 12

iniquity

Answer 12

noun

gross injustice or wickedness

a violation of right or duty

wicked act; sin

Question 13

beadle

Answer 13

noun

a parish officer who has various subordinate duties

Question 14

visage

Answer 14

noun

the face in reference to shape, features, expression, etc.

aspect; appearance

Question 15

rankle

Answer 15

verb

to continue to cause irritation or resentment within the mind

to fester; to be painful

Question 16

deportment

Answer 16

noun

demeanor; conduct; behavior

Question 17

scaffold

Answer 17

noun

an elevated or raised platform or stage

Question 18

effectual

Answer 18

adjective

producing an intended effect

adequate

valid or binding

Question 19

pillory

Answer 19

noun

a wooden framework on a post to hold one’s hands and head

verb

to expose to derision, ridicule, or abuse

Question 20

contumely

Answer 20

noun

insulting display of contempt in words or actions

contemptuous or humiliating treatment

a humiliating insult

Question 21

countenance

Answer 21

noun

appearance, especially the look or expression of the face

facial expression

Question 22

preternaturally

Answer 22

adjective

out of the ordinary course of nature

exceptional or abnormal

outside of nature; supernatural

Question 23

eminence

Answer 23

noun

high station, rank, or repute

a high place or part of elevation

Question 24

remonstrance

Answer 24

noun

a protest

Question 25

intervolutions

Answer 25

*noun* the state of being rolled or coiled up a convolution

Question 26

behoof

Answer 26

*noun* advantage; benefit *verb* to be necessary or fitting for to be appropriate or suitable

Question 27

sagacity

Answer 27

*noun* acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgement

Question 28

mien

Answer 28

*noun* behavior; air appearance; expression

Question 29

unadulterated

Answer 29

*noun* not mixed with anything else not diluted or made impure by adulterating pure

Question 30

strive

Answer 30

*verb* to exert oneself vigorously to try hard

Question 31

peremptory

Answer 31

*adjective* leaving no opportunity for denial, contradiction, or refusal imperative

Question 32

inscrutable

Answer 32

*adjective* of an obscure nature; hard to understand mysterious; unfathomable

Question 33

progenitors

Answer 33

*noun* a direct ancestor a person or thing that first indicates a direction or serves as a model predecessor; precursor

Question 34

commiseration

Answer 34

*noun* sympathy and sorrow for misfortunes of others expressions of sympathy and sorrow for another compassion

Question 35

superfluous

Answer 35

*adjective* being more than sufficient or required more than is needed, desired, or required excessive

Question 36

purport

Answer 36

*noun* purpose intention meaning appearance

Question 37

intimation

Answer 37

*noun* suggestion; hint indirect communication

Question 38

mutability

Answer 38

*noun* liable or subject to change or alteration capability to change

Question 39

caprice

Answer 39

*noun* a sudden, unpredictable change a tendency to change one's mind without apparent or adequate motive

Question 40

delusive

Answer 40

*adjective* misleading; deceptive; false; unreal of the nature of a delusion

Question 41

perverse

Answer 41

*adjective* showing a deliberate desire to behave in a way that is unacceptable

Question 42

subtile

Answer 42

*adjective* subtle; delicate or faint and mysterious discerning; sagacious

Question 43

caper

Answer 43

*verb* to leap or skip about in a sprightly manner to prance or frisk

Question 44

personage

Answer 44

*noun* a person of distinction or importance

Question 45

cabalistic

Answer 45

*adjective* mystic hidden from view

Question 46

bond-servant

Answer 46

*noun* a person who serves in bondage slave

Question 47

burnish

Answer 47

*verb* to make smooth and bright

Question 48

unfeignedly

Answer 48

*adverb* the act of being genuine (not feign)

Question 49

plumage

Answer 49

*noun* the feathers of a bird

Question 50

essay

Answer 50

*verb* to attempt or try

Question 51

imbibe

Answer 51

*verb* to absorb or assimilate ideas/knowledge

Question 52

depravity

Answer 52

*noun* moral corruption wickedness

Question 53

indefeasible

Answer 53

*adjective* not able to be lost, annulled, or overturned

Question 54

Providence

Answer 54

*noun* God a manifestation of divine care or direction

Question 55

adduce

Answer 55

*verb* to bring forward in an argument as evidence

Question 56

appellation

Answer 56

*noun* a name, title, or designation

Question 57

chirurgical

Answer 57

*adjective* pertaining to surgery or surgeons

Question 58

importunate

Answer 58

*adjective* troublesome; annoying overbearingly persistent

Question 59

confer

Answer 59

*verb* to consult or compare together to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, etc.