Frankenstein – Vocabulary
To go along with the book from the thread here are some vocabulary words and quizzes that my daughter was given:
VOLUME 1
Chapter 1
Page 33
Indefatigable – unable to be tired out
Disposition – a person’s usual frame of mind or a habit of a person, acquired tendency
Page 34
Sustenance – means of sustaining health, life, nourishment, livelihood (means of maintenance)
Adversity – distress, affliction, hardship or an unfortunate event/incident
Interment – burial, esp. with ceremonial rites
Doating – (same as to ‘dote’) meaning to love to an excessive or foolish degree
Page 35
Hitherto – until this time, to this place or point (archaic word)
Page 36
Disconsolate – sad beyond comfort, dejected
Penury – extreme poverty, scarcity
Page 37
Chamois – it’s a sure-footed goat antelope (soft suede leather was formerly made from the hide of this animal); a yellow to grayish yellow colour
Apparition – an appearance of a ghostlike figure, the act of being visible
Chapter 2
Page 38
Ardour – feelings of great intensity and warmth, fervour; eagerness and great zeal
Page 39
Caprice – whims; or a sudden change in attitude, behaviour etc
Filial – (adjective) of, resembling, or suitable to a son or daughter
Page 40
Predilection – a predisposition, preference or bias
Inclemency – harsh, severe, stormy, tempestuous
Apathy – absence of interest of or enthusiasm for things that are generally considered interesting or moving (absence of emotion)
Page 41
Chimerical – wildly fanciful, imaginary; indulging in fantasies
Avidity – with great keen and enthusiasm
Imbued – to instil or inspire (with ideals, principles etc)
Tyros – a novice or beginner
Lineaments – distinctive characteristics or features
Citadel – a strongly fortified building or place of safety
Repined – to have been fretful or low-spirited through discontent
Averred – to have stated positively, to allege as a fact or prove to be true
Page 42
Slough – despair or degradation
Multifarious – having many parts of variety
Ardent – expressive of intense desire or emotion; passionate
Page 43
Galvanism – refers to electricity, esp. when produced by chemical means as in a cell/battery. In
Medical terms, it refers to treatment involving the application of electric currents to tissues
Chapter 3
Page 48
Chimeras – according to Greek mythology, it’s a fire-breathing monster with a head of a lion, body of a goat and tail of a serpent – a fabulous beast made up of parts from various other animals. It also means a grotesque product of the imagination. In Biology terms, it’s an organism, esp. a cultivated plant, consisting of at least two genetically different kinds of tissue as a result of mutation, grafting, etc.
Page 49
Panegyric – a public formal commendation (meaning with praise & approval)
Mien- a person’s manner, bearing or appearance, expressing personality or mood
Affability – warmth & friendliness; easy to converse with, approachable
Page 50
Deference –compliance with the will/wishes of another; courteous regard; respect
Chapter 4
Page 51
Physiognomy – a person’s features/characteristic expression considered as an indication of personality; the art or practice of judging character from facial features
Dogmatism – characterised by making authoritative or arrogant assertions/opinions
Pedantry – being in the display of useless knowledge or minute observance of petty rules/details
Abstruse – not easy to understand
Page 53
Minutiae – small, precise or trifling details
Page 54
Infallible – not liable to error, failure, completely dependable and trustworthy
Precepts – a rule or principle for action, a guide or rule for morals; a direction esp. for technical operation
Incessantly – not ceasing, continual
Page 55
Emaciated – to become abnormally thin
Page 56
Procrastinate – to put of an action until a later time; delay
Chapter 5
Page 59
Lassitude – physical or mental weariness
Dante – it’s the name of an Italian poet famous for an allegorical account of his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.
Page 63
Convalescence – gradual return to health after illness, injury or an operation, the period during
which such recovery occurs
Chapter 6
Page 66
Placid – easy-going, docile, having a calm nature
Page 67
Vivacity – liveliness, exuberance, full of high spirits and animation
Vacillating – inclined to waver, indecisive (unable to make up your mind)
Page 71
Salubrious – favourable to health; wholesome, respectable, decent, hygienic, healthy
Page 72
Ingenuity – inventive talent, cleverness; Archaic Meaning: frankness, honesty & candour
Page 76
Cabriolet – a small two-wheeled horse drawn carriage with two seats and a folding hood
Decisive – influential, conclusive, characterised by the ability to make decisions; resolute
Page 77
Promontory – a high point of land esp. of rocky coast that juts out into the area
Page 78
Precipices – the steep sheer face of a cliff OR crag or a precarious (unstable & risky) situation
Chapter 8
Page 83
Infamy – the state or condition of being infamous; an infamous act or event Ignominious – disgraceful, causing public shame, dishonourable, humiliating
Exculpated – to free from blame or guilt, to pardon, acquit, to exonerate (the antonym: convict) Execrated – loathed, detested, abhorred, to have cursed and damned a person/thing
Page 85
Timorous – fearful or timid
Page 88
Absolution – release from guilt, obligation, or punishment *
Besieged – to have crowded round victim to bring about surrender; to overwhelm with requests or queries
Excommunication – to sentence (a member of the church) to exclusion from the communion of believers & from privileges & public prayers of the church *
Obdurate – not easily moved by feelings, hard-hearted; impervious to persuasion esp. to moral persuasion
Perdition – another word for hell, (Christianity) a final & irrevocable spiritual ruin *
Page 90
Inexorable – not able to be moved by entreaty or persuasion; relentless
Unhallowed – not consecrated or holy; sinful or profane (irreligious, wicked, sacrilegious)*
*Means it holds religious connotations – directly to do with the Church
