ablutions
ritual cleansing as part of a religious ceremony
acerbity
bitterness, sharpness in tone or manner
asperities
roughness, severities
asseveration
earnest or solemn statement
assiduity
great care and attention in doing something
assiduously
very carefully
auguries
omens
beadle
a minor parish official employed by the Church of England to usher and keep order
bier
wooden frame on which a coffin is carried on its way to be buried
cant
jargon, specifically of a lower class
capacious
able to hold a large quantity
chancery suits
lawsuits
choleric
bad-tempered, irritable
cogitating
thinking deeply and carefully about something
conclave
a private and secret gathering of a select group of people
coterie
a small, exclusive group of people who share the same interests
demolition
the destruction or annihilation of somebody or something
dispensary
a place where, usually medicine, here justice, is distributed
dissipated
overindulging in the pursuit of physical pleasure
ebullition
outburst
Elysium
heaven, paradise
encomiums
expressions of high praise
engendered
caused to come into existence
espial
the act of spying
expatiate
speak at length
extant
still in existence
facetious
intended to be funny but often silly or inappropriate
gibbet
gallows
grazier
person who grazes cattle
Harridans
older and assertive women; an offensive term
hostler
somebody employed to take care of horses at an inn
imprecation
a curse
irascible
quick-tempered
jocosity
humor, playfulness
languid
without energy or vigor
laudanum
a solution of alcohol and opium used for pain relief or as a sleep aid
loquacity
talkativeness
lustily
energetically
multifarious
diverse
murrain
plague, pox
Myrmidons
faithful followers
noisome
offensive, foul, dangerous
nonce
the present time
oakum
old tar-soaked rope used formerly as a sealant for gaps between planks in a boat’s hull
obeisance
a gesture of respect or deference
palter
haggle, bargain
panacea
a supposed cure-all
panegyric
expression of praise
parochial
relating or belonging to a parish
pauper
an impoverished person who is eligible to receive aid
pinioned
restrained or immobilized, usually with one’s arms tied
porringer
a small bowl usually used for soup
preceptor
teacher, tutor
profligacy
extremely low morals and standards
propitiate
win somebody’s favor
puling
whining or crying
quixotic
impractical, impulsive
rampacious
high-spirited
remonstrance
an argument or formal protest against something
salutary
promoting good health, of benefit to someone
sanguinary
bloodthirsty, eager to kill
sanguine
confident
saturnine
melancholy
saveloy
spicy smoked pork sausage
seneschal
steward of a great house, particularly in medieval times
sepulchral
dismal, possessing characteristics associated with the grave
sinecure
a position providing a regular income, but requiring little or no work
slatternly
an offensive term meant to imply a poor standard of hygiene or many sexual partners for a woman
sojourning
staying for a time at a place
stentorian
loud or powerful
stipendiary
one who is compensated by stipend
suet
hard fat used in cooking or for tallow
temerity
boldness; reckless confidence that might be offensive
tinctured
imbued with a certain quality or property
tressels
supports
unpropitious
unfavorable
viands
provisions of food
wicket
a smaller door within the gate
