The Custom-House
Vocabulary - *archaic words - no need to memorize
adversity: misfortune
alacrity: eagerness
cogitating: thinking carefully and at length
contingency: possibility; event that may or may not occur
cumbrous: unwieldy, cumbersome
customary: habitual, usual
dearth: lack of
decorous: proper, respectable
detriment: harm, damage
dilapidated: decrepit
disinclined: reluctant
effusion: outpouring
evanescent: fleeting
exhorted: strongly urged
expatiate: speak or write at length or in detail
fastidious: clean, attentive to detail
filial: relating to a son or daughter
ignominiously: in a shameful or disgraceful manner
immemorial: ancient
impalpable: not able to be felt by touch, not easy to comprehend
impunity: exemption from punishment
inclement: foul, unpleasant (often in regards to weather)
inditing: composing, formally expressing
indolent: lazy
*inveterately: in a long-established manner
languid: feeble, lacking energy
laudable: commendable
*lucubrations: study, meditation; writing created by great effort
obtuseness: lack of intelligence, slowness to understand
pervading: spreading, permeating
ponderous: stodgy, weighty
predilections: partiality, fondness for
progenitor: ancestor
*prolix: long-winded, verbose
propensities: inclinations
propriety: decency, suitability
requisite: necessary
retribution: punishment
slovenliness: messiness, sloppiness
stalwart: sturdy
tenacity: persistence
torpid: sluggish
truculency: desire or inclination to fight; aggressive, savage behavior
unction: something that soothes; oil or ointment used in religious rituals
unmalleable: unable to be shaped or changed
venerable: honorable, revered
vixenly: sharp-tongued, mean-spirited
Vocabulary - *archaic words - no need to memorize
adversity: misfortune
alacrity: eagerness
cogitating: thinking carefully and at length
contingency: possibility; event that may or may not occur
cumbrous: unwieldy, cumbersome
customary: habitual, usual
dearth: lack of
decorous: proper, respectable
detriment: harm, damage
dilapidated: decrepit
disinclined: reluctant
effusion: outpouring
evanescent: fleeting
exhorted: strongly urged
expatiate: speak or write at length or in detail
fastidious: clean, attentive to detail
filial: relating to a son or daughter
ignominiously: in a shameful or disgraceful manner
immemorial: ancient
impalpable: not able to be felt by touch, not easy to comprehend
impunity: exemption from punishment
inclement: foul, unpleasant (often in regards to weather)
inditing: composing, formally expressing
indolent: lazy
*inveterately: in a long-established manner
languid: feeble, lacking energy
laudable: commendable
*lucubrations: study, meditation; writing created by great effort
obtuseness: lack of intelligence, slowness to understand
pervading: spreading, permeating
ponderous: stodgy, weighty
predilections: partiality, fondness for
progenitor: ancestor
*prolix: long-winded, verbose
propensities: inclinations
propriety: decency, suitability
requisite: necessary
retribution: punishment
slovenliness: messiness, sloppiness
stalwart: sturdy
tenacity: persistence
torpid: sluggish
truculency: desire or inclination to fight; aggressive, savage behavior
unction: something that soothes; oil or ointment used in religious rituals
unmalleable: unable to be shaped or changed
venerable: honorable, revered
vixenly: sharp-tongued, mean-spirited