Glossary of Terms
abhorrence: a feeling of repugnance or loathing
adamantine: hard, impervious
ague: a fit of shivering or shaking
august: impressive; eminent
avarice: greed
calenture: a tropical fever
caprice: an impulsive change of mind
chimaera: an imaginary monster
circumspection: being prudent
clemency: a merciful, kind, or lenient act
commodious: spacious, roomy
coquetry: flirtation
declivity: a downward slope or bend
dexterity: skill in using hands or body
disapprobation: disapproval; condemnation
disconsolate: heartbroken, dejected
diuretic: a substance used to increase excretion of urine (also used as an adjective)
dram: a small measurement
ebullient: bubbly, happy
edict: decree or proclamation
edifice: a large building
effluvia: a small exhalation
encomiums: formal tributes
envoy: a diplomatic agent
equipage: a carriage
espalier: a plant trained to grow in a pattern
etymology: the derivation of a word
extenuation: a partial excuse
faction: a dissenting clique
hectoring: bullying
hermetically: completely sealed
hobgoblin: a source of fear
importunate: troublesome, annoying
impute: to attribute or ascribe
ingenuous: artless, innocent
laudable: commendable
lucid: clear
magnanimous: kind, benevolent
maliciously: cruelly, meanly
mercurial: inconstant, indecisive
misanthrope: a hater of humankind (Swift and Pope were both consindered misanthropes)
noxious: toxic, harmful to living things
odious: bad smelling
palisades: a line of cliffs
peccant: sinful, guilty
pecuniary: pertaining to money
perfidiousness: deceitfulness or general evilness
pernicious: causing insidious harm or ruin
prelate: a high-ranking member of the clergy
puissant: powerful; mighty
rapine: plunder
recompense: to award compensation for
retinue: attendants to a high-ranking person
rudiments: fundamental facts or elements
sagacity: mental discernment, wisdom
satire: a literary mode in which human shortcomings are held up to scorn and ridicule
scabbard: a sheath for a sword or dagger
scimitar: a curved sword
scrofulous: morally tainted
tincture: a dye or pigment
Tory: a member of the conservative political party in Great Britain (1679-1832)
usurper: a person who takes over a position
varlet: an attendant or servant
vernal: of or pertaining to spring
victuals: food supplies
virtuoso (pl. virtuosi): a person who is a master of his or her field
Whig: a member of the liberal political party in Great Britain (1679-1832)
ClassicNote on Gulliver's Travels
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