The Portrait Glossary

The Portrait Glossary

apparition

a ghost or ghostlike image of a person

assert

state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully

attire

clothes, esp. fine or formal ones

boor

a rude, unmannerly person

celerity

swiftness of movement

chaffer

haggle about the terms of an agreement or price of something

come across

meet or find by chance

conflagration

an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property

deem

regard or consider in a specified way

dire

extremely serious or urgent

engross

absorb all the attention or interest of

festoon

a chain or garland of flowers, leaves, or ribbons, hung in a curve as a decoration

gloomy

dark or poorly lit

huckster

a person who sells small items, either door-to-door or from a stall or small store

irremediable

impossible to cure or put right

lavish upon

bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities

matter-of-fact

practical

menace

a threat or danger

neckerchief

a square of cloth worn around the neck

penetrating

able to make a way through or into something

perceptive

having or showing sensitive insight

proprietor

the owner of a business

reverie

a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts

rove

travel constantly without a fixed destination

thud

a dull, heavy sound, such as that made by an object falling to the ground

transparent

allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen

truant

a student who stays away from school without leave or explanation

vexation

the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried

wondrous

inspiring a feeling of wonder or delight, marvelous

zeal

great energy or enthusiasm

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

Update this section

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

Cite this page