Part III - Chapter V — Vocabulary
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky — key words and definitions
Vocabulary Words from Part III - Chapter V
- corpulence
- The state of being excessively fat or obese.
- mawkish
- Sentimental in a feeble or sickly way; also, having a faint sickly flavor.
- irresistibly
- In a way that cannot be resisted or withheld.
- crestfallen
- Sad and disappointed; dejected.
- transgress
- To go beyond the limits of what is morally, socially, or legally acceptable; to violate a law or rule.
- phalanstery
- A type of communal building designed by utopian socialist Charles Fourier to house an ideal cooperative community.
- carnage
- The killing of a large number of people; slaughter.
- pecuniary
- Relating to or consisting of money; financial.
- solemnity
- The quality of being serious, formal, and dignified.
- castigate
- To reprimand or punish severely.
- vindictive
- Having or showing a strong desire for revenge; spiteful.
- retort
- A vessel used for distillation or chemical reactions; here used metaphorically for the process that produces genius.
- servile
- Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others; slavish.
- impertinence
- Lack of respect; rudeness; also, the quality of not being relevant or appropriate.
- conjecture
- To form an opinion or supposition about something on the basis of incomplete information.
- guffaw
- A loud, boisterous laugh.
- ejaculated
- Exclaimed suddenly and briefly (archaic usage meaning to cry out).
- vouchsafed
- Given or granted something in a gracious or condescending manner.