Glossary of Terms
almsgiving: Charitable giving to the poor, especially monetary gifts made as a specifically religious devotion
attent: Attentive
berceau: A shaded, arbor-covered outdoor walkway
bey: A Turkish governor
blent: Mixed together; a British past participle of "blend"
book-muslin: A fine lightweight cotton fabric, with a somewhat open weave. It was folded in the manner of a book when sold in quantity.
bougie: A candle made of wax
cambric: Fine white linen from Cambray in Flanders. The fabric of handkerchiefs.
catarrh: A historical term for respiratory disease; the common cold
cicerone: A tourist guide; a person who takes visitors to art galleries, museums, etc.
collation: A light meal set out for a party, or a meal allowed on fasting days
collyrium: A medicine or healing liquid applied to the eye
commodious: Convenient, spacious, comfortable, or easily adapted
coquelicot: A brilliant red-orange poppy
dey: A man in charge of a dairy
estrade: A low raised platform or dais
exigeant: The characteristic of being demanding, or requiring complete attention
fain: Gladly or willingly
fête: A large festival or party, usually put on by a community (school, church, village, etc.)
flagon: A bottle for liquor or wine
furbelow: A flounce or trimming on a petticoat or a dress
gasconading: Blustering or boasting
grenier: Attic or uppermost floor of a house
grisette: A young Frenchwoman of the working class; sometimes meant with a negative connotation of being grasping or mercenary.
guinea: An English gold coin not made since 1813. It was originally worth the value of twenty shillings (equalling one pound) but came to be worth a pound plus one shilling. Also, the color of this coin.
hebdomadal: Happening on a weekly basis
horn-book: Originally a primer (alphabet, numbers, and prayers) printed on one sheet of paper, covered with a translucent sheet of horn to make it visible but protected from soiling or tearing, and usually with an attached frame and handle for holding. Now the term is simply a euphemism for a textbook.
imprimis: Firstly, or to begin
Labassecourian: from Labassecour
minaudieres: Small decorated bags used to carry cosmetics, jewelery, or handkerchiefs, used as handbags by women
nacarat: Bright orange-red
odalisque: A female concubine in a harem; an exotic or sexually attractive woman, often depicted in art
oratory: A small room for private devotion. A private chapel.
pensionnat: A French word meaning a boarding school.
perfidious: Untrustworthy or treacherous
perforce: Must be so; necessarily
philoprogenitiveness: A historical idea that the love of one's children (or of children in general) was located in a certain part of the brain, and constituted a separate organ that could have various levels of development between people. This idea was still current in Bronte's time.
physiognomy: The pseudoscientific study of facial features as being indicative of character
probity: Honesty and integrity
pthisis: A historical term for tuberculosis
recontre: A meeting or encounter
savoir-faire: The ability to know what to do in any situation; worldliness
secresy: Variant archaic spelling of "secrecy"
thereanent: Concerning
turbid: Obscured or clouded
vicinage: The surrounding area or neighborhood
weltering: Turning, twisting, or wallowing
ClassicNote on Villette
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