English 12 B: Unit 3 Frankenstein Vocabulary Flashcards

Desolation

devastation, ruin; grief, sadness

Injunction

the act or an instance of enjoining

Capacious

containing or capable of containing a great deal

Prudent

marked by wisdom or judiciousness; provident, frugal

Impertinent

given to or characterized by insolent rudeness

Ameliorate

to make better or more tolerable; to grow better

Indefatigable

incapable of being fatigued

Pretension

a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit; an
allegation of doubtful value

Chimeras

an illusion or fabrication of the mind; especially
:an unrealizable dream; an imaginary monster
compounded of incongruous parts

Panegyric

a eulogistic oration or writing

Affability

characterized by ease and friendliness

Dogmatism

characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly
or positively as if they were facts

Pedantry

pedantic presentation or application of knowledge or learning

Languor

weakness or weariness of body or mind

Pertinacity

adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design; perversely persistent

Approbation

commendation, praise; an act of approving formally or officially

Diffident

hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence

Verdant

unripe in experience or judgment; green in tint or color

Desolating

showing the effects of abandonment and neglect

Prognosticate

to foretell from signs or symptoms

Ignominious

marked with or characterized by disgrace or shame

Exculpated

to clear from alleged fault or guilt

Obdurate

stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing; hardened in feelings

Augmenting

to make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense

Malice

desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another

Precipitous

very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall

Glacier

a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading
outward on a land surface

Uncouth

lacking in polish and grace; not known or not familiar to one
:seldom experienced

Despondence

a state or spell of low spirits

Benevolent

having or marked by sympathy and consideration for other

Barbarous

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others

Arbiters

a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy

Conciliating

tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility

Hasten

to cause to move or proceed fast or faster

Conjectured

an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence

Affluence

a flowing or coming in

Puerile

having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated
with children

Deprecate

to express scornfully one's low opinion of

Tumultuous

marked by tumult :loud, excited, and emotional

Sagacity

the quality of being keen in sense perception

Impotence

lack of power, strength, or vigor

Gesticulations

the act of making gestures

Malignity

an instance of malicious behavior or nature

Shunned

to avoid deliberately and especially habitually

Undulations

a wavy appearance, outline, or form

Repugnance

strong dislike, distaste, or antagonism

Indolence

inclination to laziness

Mien

appearance, aspect; demeanor

Penury

extreme and often stingy frugality

Propagated

to pass along to offspring; to cause to spread out and affect a
greater number or greater area

Dissipate

to cause to spread thin or scatter and gradually vanish; to spend or
use up wastefully or foolishly

Perturbed

to cause to be worried or upset or confused

Languid

sluggish in character or disposition

Paroxysms

a sudden violent emotion or action

Consecrate

dedicated to a sacred purpose

Torpor

a state of mental and motor inactivity with partial or total
insensibility; dullness

Omnipotent

having virtually unlimited authority or influence

Report

common talk or an account spread by common talk

Incredulity

disbelief

Degradation

decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state; degrading

Opprobrium

something that brings disgrace