Chapter X — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter X

dilatory (adjective)

Slow to act; tending to cause delay.

physiognomy (noun)

A person's facial features or expression, especially as indicative of character.

sizar (noun)

A student at Cambridge or Trinity College Dublin who receives financial assistance and formerly performed menial duties in exchange for reduced fees.

peevishness (noun)

The quality of being easily irritated or annoyed, especially over trivial matters.

abjured (verb)

Formally renounced or gave up (a belief, claim, or behaviour).

fastidiousness (noun)

Excessive attention to detail or cleanliness; being very particular about standards of accuracy or propriety.

divested (verb)

Stripped or rid of something; freed from.

phalanx (noun)

A closely packed group or formation; here used figuratively for a row of medicine bottles.

covetousness (noun)

An intense desire to possess something that belongs to another person.

peremptorily (adverb)

In a way that expects immediate obedience and allows no refusal.

wayward (adjective)

Difficult to control or predict because of wilful or perverse behaviour.

indiscretion (noun)

Behaviour or speech that is imprudent or shows a lack of good judgement.

mawkish (adjective)

Sentimental in a feeble or sickly way; lacking genuine feeling.

forebodingly (adverb)

In a way that suggests something bad or harmful is about to happen.

presentiment (noun)

An intuitive feeling or premonition that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.