admiral
the commanding officer of a fleet of ships
allez
go (French)
basta
enough (Italian)
billiards
a game that is played on a rectangular-shaped table covered in cloth, where a long stick (a cue) hits small, hard balls
conducive
tending or leading to
dachas
a Russian country villa
economize
to reduce expenses
emancipation
releasing someone from a state of bondage or servitude
financier
a person skilled in complex financial operations
frivolous
silly or trivial
galoshes
heavy, waterproof shoes made of rubber
gherkins
small, prickly cucumbers used for pickling
harness
to control and direct; to attach
heron
a wading bird with a long neck, long legs, a long bill, and a hoarse cry
herring
small, silvery fish (when canned: a sardine)
horsy
horse-like; large, clumsy
illusory
deceptive; unreal
incorrigible
cannot be reformed or improved
intelligentsia
people regarding themselves as the educated or intellectual elite
intelligible
clear, understandable
jackal
a cheat; an accomplice in committing dishonest acts
kopeck
100 kopecks equal 1 ruble (Russian currency)
kvass
a Russian drink distilled from barley or rye
livery
a uniform worn by male servants
lout
a clumsy and stupid person
mandolin
a small, round stringed instrument belonging to the lute family
mitigating
to make less intense or severe
mortgage
a pledge of property to secure a debt to a creditor
muzhik
a male Russian peasant
Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher
nursery
a room set apart for children's use
palpable
tangible; easily perceived
patchouli
a small mint-like shrub used in perfumes
pensively
thinking deeply, usually with a touch of sadness
perpetual
continual; enduring
physiologically
relating to the vital parts and functions of living organisms
premonition
a foreboding
prescribe
to impose rules or advice
promissory note
a promise made in writing to pay a sum of money at a specific time to a specific recipient
ruble or rouble
Russian currency
samovar
a metal urn used to boil tea in Russia
serf
a slave bound to the master's land
starlings
dark, iridescent birds
summons
an order to appear or perform a particular action
vagrant
a wanderer; a nomad
versts
a former Russian unit of length (0.663 mile)
virtuous
chaste; righteous or exhibiting moral excellence
vulgarity
the state of being offensively crude or unrefined
