Book I — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Book I

perdition (noun)

Complete and utter ruin; eternal damnation in Hell.

adamantine (adjective)

Unbreakable; impenetrably hard, like diamond.

obdurate (adjective)

Stubbornly refusing to change one's mind or course of action; hardened against feeling.

baleful (adjective)

Menacing; threatening evil or harm; full of malignant influence.

impious (adjective)

Showing a lack of respect for God or sacred things; profane; irreverent.

apostate (noun/adjective)

One who abandons or renounces a religious or political belief; a deserter of faith.

compeer (noun)

A person of equal rank or status; a companion or peer.

nathless (adverb)

Nevertheless; nonetheless. An archaic word combining 'not the less.'

puissant (adjective)

Having great power or influence; mighty; potent.

opprobrious (adjective)

Expressing scorn or severe criticism; shameful; disgraceful.

uxorious (adjective)

Excessively devoted or submissive to one's wife.

amerc't (verb (past participle))

Deprived of; punished by the loss of something (archaic past tense of 'amerce').

empyreal (adjective)

Relating to the highest part of heaven, believed in ancient cosmology to be composed of pure fire or light.

conclave (noun)

A private or secret meeting; originally, the assembly of cardinals for electing a pope.

incumbent (adjective)

Lying or pressing upon; in this context, resting upon or bearing down on (the air).

dulcet (adjective)

Sweet and soothing to the ear; melodious; pleasing.

expatiate (verb)

To move about freely; to roam or wander at will (archaic sense). In modern usage, to speak or write at length.

sovran (noun/adjective)

An archaic or poetic spelling of 'sovereign'; supreme ruler or supreme in authority.

sublim'd (verb (past participle))

Elevated or refined; in chemistry, converted from a solid directly to a gas (here describing volcanic material vaporized by heat).

suffice (verb)

In this archaic usage, to satisfy or fulfill (someone's anger or desire); to be enough for.