Vocab Flashcards
Obsequious
Obedient and attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
“The elaborate character of the frame had made the picture extremely bulky, and now and then, in spite of obsequious protests of Mr. Hubbard, who had the true tradesman’s spirited dislike of seeing a gentleman doing anything useful, Dorian put his hand to it so as to help them.”
Nacre
Mother-of-pearl
Renunciations
The formal rejection of something, typically a belief, claim, or course of action.
“…loving in their mere artificiality those renunciations that men have unwisely called virtue…” ch.10
Argot
The jargon or slang of a particular group or class.
“The style which it was written was the curious jeweled style, full of argot and of archaisms…” ch.10
Symoblistes
Late 19th century art movement
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism_(arts)
Anchorite
“…Nature, in her wonderful irony, driving out the anchorite to feed with the wild animals of the desert and giving to the hermit the beasts of the field as his companions.” Ch.11
A person who lives alone in a solitary place for religious meditation; recluse.
Latin: anchorita-
Profligacy
“Of the asceticism that deadens the senses, as of the vulgar profligacy that dulls them, it [life] was to know nothing.” Ch.11
Reckless extravagance or wastefulness of resources.
Monstrance
[Roman Catholic] An open or transparent receptacle in which the consecrated host is exposed for veneration.
Ch.11
Antinomianism
Relating to the view that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing moral law.
Ophrey
Ornamental stripe or border, especially on ecclesiastical vestment such as a chasuble.
Calumny
The making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone’s reputation
Torpid
“…and into whose [Giambattista Cibo] torpid veins, the blood of three lads was infused…”
Mentally or physically inactive; lethargic.
