Jude the Obscure

Jude the Obscure Glossary

abrade

scrape or wear away

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness

antipathy

a strong feeling of aversion

antipodes

a direct opposite

arable

land that can be used for crops

assiduity

careful concentration or meticulousness

banns

an announcement of marriage

blackpot

also known as black pudding, a sausage made from pig's blood and suet

capacious

roomy, spacious

caprice

an inclination to change one's mind impulsively

chimerical

existing only as the product of unchecked imagination; fantastically visionary or improbable

coercion

use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance

contiguous

adjacent; adjoining; neighboring

contrite

repentant; penitent; remorseful

contrition

sincere or complete remorse for sins committed

declivity

a downward slope

deedliy

industriously; honestly

deputation

delegation

diffidence

lacking confidence; restrained; shyness

ecclesiastical

of or relating to a church

effrontery

insolent or impertinent behavior

epicene

being of indeterminate gender

epicure

person with a refined taste

equanimity

mental calmness despite external difficulties

exemplar

one that serves as a model

expostulate

express strong disapproval or disagreement

factitious

false; artificial; unnatural

fallal

a cheap, showy bangle or object

fallow

a piece of uncultivated land

fatuous

foolish or silly

fervid

intensely enthusiastic; passionate; hot

fixity

the state of being unchanged or permanent

florid

ruddy

frowsy

musty or stale

gaol

jail

gibbet

an instrument for public execution; in this case - gallows

granary

storehouse for grain

greensward

a patch of ground covered in grass

habiliments

clothing

heterodox

contrary to the standard; unorthodox

ignominious

disgraceful; infamous; shameful

immure

to imprison someone against their will

impertinence

insolence; irrelevance

in posse

in potential but not in actuality (Latin)

ineffable

too sacred to be uttered

inimical

tending to obstruct or harm

intractable

stubborn; willful; hard to control

itinerant

traveling from place to place

jocose

playful or humorous

lambent

glowing; gleaming

languor

tiredness or inertia; an oppressive stillness of the air

morose

sullen and ill-tempered; gloomy

mullion

a vertical element that separates panes of a window

mummery

a ridiculous or antiquated religious ritual

obstinate

stubborn

omnibus

a large coach

Papist

disparaging term for a Roman Catholic

paroxysm

fit; attack; seizure

pecuniary

monetary; financial

pellucid

clear or (in a figurative sense) easily understood

penury

extreme poverty or destitution

perforce

by physical coercion

perfunctorily

superficially; without enthusiasm

phalanx

a close-knit group of people

predestinate

to determine in advance; fate

preternatural

beyond natural; surpassing the normal or usual

prevarication

lie

punitive

intended as punishment

purblind

dim-witted

purlieu

the places a person usually spends time at

raillery

good-natured teasing or archness

raiment

clothing

recalcitrant

insubordinate; disobedient

renascent

reawakened; renewed

rick

a stack of hay or straw

rook

a crow

rustication

life in the countryside

scintillation

flash of light

sepulchre

place of burial

solicitous

showing eager interest or concern

sumptuous

costly; luxurious; magnificent

supercilious

haughty; arrogant; proud

supercillious

haughty; arrogant; proud

supine

lying on one's back, face up

surplice

a loose garment worn by the clergy

temerity

boldness

timorous

timid; cautious

tract

a literary work, usually religious in nature

transmutation

an alteration of form, appearance or nature

vicissitude

a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant

vouchsafe

reveal or disclose

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