The Novel of the White Powder Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from The Novel of the White Powder

vagabond (noun)

A person who wanders from place to place without a fixed home or regular work.

cajole (verb)

To persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

ardour (noun)

Intense enthusiasm or passion for something.

languid (adjective)

Lacking energy or vitality; weak or faint.

despondent (adjective)

In low spirits from loss of hope or courage; deeply discouraged.

coquetry (noun)

Flirtatious or showy behavior designed to attract attention or admiration.

apothecary (noun)

A person who prepared and sold medicines; an early form of a pharmacist.

scrupulous (adjective)

Extremely careful and thorough, paying great attention to detail and correctness.

furbish (verb)

To polish or renovate something; to restore to good condition.

quaffed (verb)

Drank something heartily and in large gulps.

carousal (noun)

A noisy, lively drinking party or celebration.

malacca cane (noun phrase)

A walking stick made from the stem of a tropical palm, associated with gentlemen of the Victorian era.

transmutation (noun)

The action of changing or the state of being changed into another form or substance.

lurid (adjective)

Vivid in color in a way that creates an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect; ghastly or sensational.

whorls (noun)

Spiral or coiling shapes; patterns of concentric circles.

pageantry (noun)

An elaborate, spectacular display or ceremony.

impregnating (verb)

Saturating or filling something thoroughly with a substance.

anaesthetic (noun)

A substance that induces insensitivity to pain, often causing loss of consciousness.

fortnight (noun)

A period of two weeks.

ague (noun)

A fever involving alternating periods of chills, hot flushes, and sweating; malaria or a similar illness.

tabernacle (noun)

A dwelling place, especially one regarded as temporary; in religious use, a tent or portable shrine housing sacred objects.

unctuous (adjective)

Having a greasy or soapy texture; excessively oily.

transcendental (adjective)

Relating to matters beyond ordinary experience or scientific explanation; surpassing the physical or material.

phial (noun)

A small glass bottle, especially one used for holding liquid medicines.

burlesque (noun)

An absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something; a mockery or parody.

specious (adjective)

Superficially plausible but actually wrong; misleading in appearance.

neophytes (noun)

New converts or beginners; people who are new to a subject, skill, or belief.

allurement (noun)

The quality of being powerfully attractive or fascinating; temptation.

impunity (noun)

Exemption from punishment or freedom from the harmful consequences of an action.