The Scarlet Letter
Vocabulary
1. Ponderous: adjective boring or dull
2. Congenial: adjective pleasant and enjoyable
3. Physiognomy: noun a person’s facial features
4. Venerable: adjective old and respected
5. Purport: noun the meaning of something
6. Interpose: verb to interrupt a conversation or come between
7. Haughty: adjective disdainfully proud
8. Sumptuary: adjective intending to prevent luxury and extravagance
9. Ignominy: noun deep personal shame or humiliation
10. Rheumatic: adjective stiff
11. Contrivance: noun event in a story that makes it unbelievable
12. Illustrious: adjective admired for achievements
13. Contumely: noun harsh and arrogant language
14. Phantasmagoric: adjective dreamlike
15. Pillory: noun device that holds hands and head for reason of public shame
16. Gentility: noun well-mannered and of high social status
17. Optics: noun eyes
18. Trifle: noun something of little value
19. Impediment: noun something that interferes
20. Throng: noun large crowd of people
21. Delude: verb to mislead
22. Superfluous: adjective more than what is needed and unnecessary
23. Loathsome: adjective disgusting
24. Imbued: verb to affect something greatly
25. Unutterable: adjective too great or powerful to be described
26. Befitted: verb to be suitable for
27. Embowed: adjective bent like a bow
28. Antiquated: adjective very old and no longer useful
29. Emaciated: adjective thin and frail
30. Chirurgical: adjective having to do with surgery
31. Scrupulous: adjective very careful
32. Wrought: verb carefully formed or shaped
33. Confidant: noun a person one shares secrets with
34. Palliate: verb to ease or lessen the pain or intensity of something
35. Smite: verb to hit very hard
36. Malevolence: noun evil and harmful behavior
37. Propensity: noun a strong tendency to do something
38. Auspicious: adjective showing that future success is likely
39. Bane: noun a source of harm or ruin
40. Scintillating: adjective very clever and interesting
41. Transfiguration: noun a change in form or appearance
42. Despondency: noun state of hopelessness
43. Extenuation: noun the act of excusing or lessening
44. Solace: noun comfort in a time of grief
45. Estranged: verb when formerly close friends are no longer friendly
46. Solitude: noun state of being alone
47. Potentate: noun powerful ruler
48. Quaff: verb to drink deeply
49. Tempestuous: adjective stormy or turbulent
50. Acutest: adjective sharpest or most severe