A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Glossary

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Glossary

absolution

formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment

avid

having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something

beget

give rise to, bring about

emasculate

make weaker or less effective

feud

a state of prolonged mutual hostility

inflexible

unwilling to change or compromise

lament

to mourn, or feel sad about a loss

lavish

sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious

limpid

free of anything that darkens, completely clear

midwife

a person, typically a woman trained to assist women in childbirth

mongrel

a dog of no definable type or breed

naiveté

lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment

nurture

the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something

poignant

creating or evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

profanity

blasphemous or obscene language

raucous

making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise

reverie

a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts

rigid

unable to bend or be forced out of shape

shabby

in poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care

tenement

an apartment building, usually in a low-income area, without any luxury amenities

bucolic

of or in the countryside; relating to the pleasantness of country life

cambric

a type of linen fabric that is finely woven

conjecture

an opinion formed on incomplete information

fastidious

very attentive to accuracy, detail, and cleanliness; meticulous

prodigious

of impressive size; awesome; large

ragamuffin

a person, usually a child who is unkempt, and often dirty and dressed in rags

thwarted

prevented or stopped from accomplishing something

relegate

to demote to a lower position or category

saunter

to walk in a slow and leisurely manner

on the dole

unemployed and reciving benefits from the government

infintesimal

so small or tiny that it is unmeasurable or deemed to be irrelevant

genuflect

to kneel down in a show of deference; often happens in a place of worship

vivacious

a person, often a woman, who is lively, attractive, and spirited

gratis

something that is free, and without any cost

interminable

the passage of time which is dull, boring, and without event

mollify

to appease or soothe the anxiety or anger of another person

contempt

the feeling that another person is undeserving, worthless, or beneath notice

putrid

rotting or decaying organic matter which emits a foul odor

satchet

a small bag or purse which is perfumed, often used to scent clothes

vestibule

a foyer or reception area, often located inside of a church or a school

surreptitious

secretive or sneaky

gallantly

to do something in a way that is heroic or brave

debonair

used to describe an individual who is charming, sophisticated, and stylish

contorted

misshapen and twisted

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