Chapter 1

ambled: (vb.): to walk at a slow, leisurely pace.

apothecary (n.): an early form of a pharmacist, apothecaries could also prescribe drugs.

assuaged (vb.): lessen or to calm.

beadle (n.): a minor city official

brethren (n.): in this case, members of a particular church or sect

dictum (n.): in this case, a formal statement of principle

domiciled (vb.): residing, living

human chattels (n.): slaves

impotent (adj.): powerless.

imprudent (adj.): unwise, with disregard for the results of one's actions

malevolent (adj.): evil

piety (n): devotion to religious duties and practices

predilection (n.): a preference, or a preferred way of doing something.

vapid (adj.): boring or uninteresting.

strictures (n.): conditions or rules

taciturn (adj.): almost always silent.

unsullied (adj.): untouched or unused.

Chapter 2

condescended (vb.): agree to do something that you believe to be beneath your dignity.

entailment (n.): a legal situation regarding the use of inherited property.

indigenous (adj.): native or belonging to a particular region or country

seceded (vb.): to break away.

mortification (n.): a feeling of shame or embarrassment

Chapter 3

amiable (adj.): friendly

compromise (n.): an agreement where each person agrees to give up something

contemptuous (adj.): feeling that someone or something is beneath you; that it or they are worthless.

contentious (adj.): always ready to argue or fight

disapprobation (n.): disapproval

erratic (adj.): irregular.

monosyllabic (adj.): having only one syllable

Chapter 4

auspicious (adj.): favorable

melancholy (adj.): sad and gloomy

quell (vb.) to quiet, soothe or pacify.

Chapter 5

asinine (adj.): stupid; silly

benign (adj.): kind and gentle

bridgework (n.): Unlike dentures, which replace the upper or lower sets of teeth, bridgework is made up of sections of replacement teeth that can be inserted and removed from one's mouth.

edification (n.): education; instruction

morbid (adj.): gruesome; horrible

tacit (adj.): quiet; silently agreed upon

Chapter 6

collards (n.): a type of cabbage with very coarse leaves.

malignant (adj.): dangerous; evil

prowess (n.): superior ability or skill

ramshackle (adj.): loose or rickety; about to fall apart

waning (adj.): becoming less bright, intense, or strong

Chapter 7

palate (n.): the roof of one's mouth

Chapter 8

caricature (n.): a representation of a person where certain features of that person are exaggerated or distorted

cordial (adj.): warm and friendly

libel (n.): harm to someone's reputation

Chapter 9

ambrosia (n): a desert made up of a mixture of fruits, nuts, and coconut.

analogous (adj.): similar; comparable

attire (n.): clothing

changelings (n.): a child secretly put in the place of another

deportment (n.): behavior

don (vb.): put on

obstreperous (adj.): noisy and unruly

ringworm (n.): a contagious skin disease caused by a fungus.

siblings (n.): brothers and/or sisters

still (n.): an apparatus for making alcoholic liquors.

tarried (vb.): delayed; waited

tentative (adj.): hesitant or unsure.

trousseau (n.): all the new clothes a bride brings to her marriage

Chapter 10

gingerly (adv.): carefully; cautiously

inconspicuous (adj.) Not attracting attention.

Chapter 11

apoplectic (adj.): Having a stroke.

camellia (n.): a shrub with glossy evergreen leaves and waxy, rose-like flowers.

degeneration (n.): deterioration, decline

dog-trot hall (adj.): a covered passageway between two parts of a building

interdict (n.): prohibition; restraint

livid (adj.): pale; lead-colored.

oppressive (adj.): overbearing; hard to put up with

palliation (n.): lessening the pain, fear and anxiety, of something without actually making the fear and anxiety go away.

passé (adj.): old-fashioned

philippic (n.): a bitter verbal attack

plate (n.): here, dentures; dental plate

propensities (n.): inclinations or tendencies

reconnaissance (n.): examination

rectitude (n.): uprightness of character

relic (n): something of historic interest that has survived from the past.

skulk (vb.): to move or slink about in a sinister manner.

umbrage (n.): offense

undulate (vb.): to move in waves or in a wavy manner

viscous (adj.): sticky

Chapter 12

appalling (adj.): shocking; horrifying

austere (adj.): stern and severe

diligently (adv.): industriously; in a hard-working manner

dispelled (vb.): driven away

ecclesiastical impedimenta (adj. + n.) items used during a church service

frivolous (adj.): silly; not serious

garish (adj.) showy, very bright or gaudy

habiliments (n.): outfits; clothing

 Chapter 13

caste system (adj. + n.): class distinctions based on birth, wealth, etc.

curtness (n.): To be curt is to be brief and short to the point of being rude.

devoid (adj.): completely without

flighty (adj.): foolish; irresponsible

shinny (n.) a slang term for liquor; usually whiskey or bourbon.

tactful (adj.): able to say the right thing to a person without being offensive.

tight (adj.): here, drunk

Chapter 14

infallible (adj.): never wrong

taut (adj.): tightly stretched

Chapter 15

acquiesce (vb.): agree without protest

begrudge (vb.): to feel resentment or disapproval about the fact that someone has something

stifle (vb.): hold back; suppress

succinct (adj.): clear and brief

uncouth (adj.): crude, unmannerly

venerable (adj.): impressive on account of age or historic associations

Chapter 16

affirmed (vb.): firmly declared or stated

elucidate (vb.): explain

formidable (adj.): impressive

subtle (adj.): not openly obvious; quiet

Chapter 17

acrimonious (adj.): sarcastic; bitter; nasty

ambidextrous (adj.): able to use both hands with equal ease

amiably (adv.): good-naturedly

dogged (adj.): stubborn and determined

genially (adv.): in a friendly manner

gullet (n.): throat; neck

sullen (adj.): in this case, gloomy and threatening

tenet (n.) a principle or belief generally held to be true

turbulent (adj.): stormy; unruly

Chapter 18

arid (adj.): dry; without expression

lavations (n.): washings

mollified (adj.): soothed; calmed

neutrality (n.): the condition of being neutral; not taking part in either side of a controversy.

perpetual (adj.): everlasting; continuous

tedious (adj.): boring; tiresome

wrathfully (adv.): angrily

Chapter 19

candid (adj.): open and honest

ex cathdra (adj.): made with the authority that comes from one's official position

express (adj.): clear; explicit; not just implied

expunge (vb.): remove completely

impudent (adj.): disrespectful; bold; sassy

volition (n.): free will 

Chapter 20

detachment (n.): the state of being disinterested or unemotional

discreet (adj.): carefully phrased; cautious

fraud (n.): a lie; a deception

indicted (vb.): formally accused; charged

pauper (n.): an extremely poor person

temerity (n.): foolish or rash boldness

unmitigated (adj.): out-and-out, absolute

Chapter 21

acquit (vb.): clear of a charge; find not guilty

exhilarated (adj.): cheerful, merry

Chapter 22

cynic (n.): someone who often belittles or makes fun of someone else.

fatalistic (adj.): accepting an event as though it were inevitable; that is, that nothing could be done to change or alter it.

heathen (adj.): unenlightened; without religion or morals

ruefully (adv.): regretfully

Chapter 23

furtive (adj.): sneaky

infantile (adj.): childish

statute (n.): law

vehement (adj.): full of emotion and strong feeling

wary (adj.): cautious

wryly (adv.): humorously; slightly sarcastic

Chapter 24

apprehension (n.): In this case, fear

bovine (adj.): cow-like

brevity (n.): shortness

devout (adj.): devoted to religion

hypocrites (n.): people who pretend to be something they are not

impertinence (n.): disrespect

squalor (n): filth

Chapter 25

veneer (n.): attractive outer surface

Chapter 26

spurious (adj.): outwardly resembling something but without the genuine qualities of that thing.

Chapter 27

industry (n.): work, especially on a steady basis

notoriety (n.): fame

florid (adj.): very flowery in style; elegant

nondescript (adj.): dull; with no special or interesting qualities

Chapter 28

gait (n.): pace, walk

hock (n.): the joint bending backward in the hind leg of an animal like a pig. irascible (adj.): angry

pinioned (adj.): confined; held down

repertoire (n.): accomplishments; skills.

staccato (adj.): distinct; sharp and crisp

Chapter 29

reprimand (vb.): scold

Chapter 30

blandly (adv.): smoothly; without excitement

connived (vb.): secretly cooperated or agreed to

Chapter 31

raling (adj.): painful