Love in the Time of Cholera Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

abscess

a localized collection of pus surrounding some inflamed tissue

aguardiente

literally, firewater. The national drink of Colombia, an anise-flavored liqueur derived from sugar cane.

assignation

a secret lovers' meeting

atavism

the return of a trait or the recurrence of a behavior after some time of absence

austerity

lack of excess, adornment, or ornamentation; sternness

brazier

a metal container for hot coals, used for warmth or for cooking

cadaver

a dead body, especially one that is meant for dissection in medical studies

cataclysm

an event (usually negative) that brings about great transformations

centenarian

a person at least 100 years old

climacteric

critical, crucial

conjugal

relating to marriage

convalescent

relating to the return to health after an illness

courtesan

a high-class prostitute or mistress, usually associated with a single powerful man

crinoline

a stiff fabric

demijohn

a large bottle, often for wine, with a short, narrow neck

despondency

depression of spirits; lack of confidence, hope, or courage

diaphanous

delicate to the point of transparency

discordant

sounding unpleasant

dissolute

indulging in physical pleasure to an extent considered immoral or harmful

Divine Providence

the sovereign guidance and control of God, generally to man's advantage

fancier

breeder of a particular animal or plant (in this case, pigeons)

fastidious

very difficult to please due to concern for details

fornicator

someone who commits adultery or, more accurately, engages in nonmarital sex

guileless

naive and trusting

hapless

luckless, unfortunate

hermeticism

living isolated and protected from outside influence

imperturbable

not easily worried or agitated; consistently calm

impetigo

a contagious skin infection

impetuous

impulsive and passionate

indigenous

natural or inborn

innocuous

harmless, insipid

intransigence

the refusal to compromise, give up an extreme position, or refrain from a criticized action

irremediable

impossible to remedy or make right

landau

a four-wheeled carriage with front-seat and back-seat passengers facing each other

latrine

a toilet

liveried

wearing a uniform of a male servant

mausoleum

a large tomb or a large gloomy room or building

miasmic

of a stench caused by atmospheric pollution

milieu

surroundings that someone lives in and is influenced by

mulatta

a female born to one white parent and one black parent

multitudinous

existing in a great multitude

opulent

characterized by a lavish display of wealth

palliative

a medicine that treats symptoms only

pauper

a very poor person

penitent

repentant; feeling or expressing regretful sorrow for sins

Pentecost Mass

Sunday Mass held fifty days after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as described in the New Testament

peon

laborer or low-paid worker

peregrination

a journey, often on foot

pestilence

an epidemic disease, usually with a high death rate

petate

a Central American woven carpet used as a bedroll

plenipotentiary

an ambassador or delegate invested with full power to act on behalf of a government

pontifical

relating to or characteristic of a pope or a bishop

posthumous

occurring or continuing after one's death

premonitory

foreboding, indicative of something to happen

presentiment

a premonition; a hunch that something is about to happen

propitious

presenting favorable circumstances

putrefaction

decomposition of organic matter, resulting in a very foul smell

recumbent

lying; reclined

renunciation

a rejection of something, usually for moral or religious reasons

rotogravure

a process of printing involving intaglio plates

sentinel

one who keeps guard

sinuous

full of bends and curves; serpentine

syncopate

to modify a rhythm by accenting the weak beat

tantamount

equivalent to a particular thing in effect; the same as

tertian fever

fever caused by Malarian parasites

troupial

a kind of bird indigenous to South America