Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories Glossary
Glossary of Terms
alacrity
prompt or eager readinessaliment
something that feeds, sustains, or supports something elseassiduity
great care and attention in doing somethingbilious
bad-tempered, irritableblandishments
pieces of flattery intended to persuade somebody to do somethingbowers
shady sheltersconnubial
relating to marriageconsanguinity
relationship by descent from the same ancestorcontumely
contemptuous or scornful languagecurricle
a light, two-wheeled open carriage drawn by horsesdeclensions
the processes of gradually declining or deterioratingdisputatious
argumentativedross
something that is worthlessductile
able to be molded or shaped; malleableelysium
paradise; ideal place or conditionemolument
payment for work doneerudite
very knowledgeable through studyfactotum
somebody employed to do a variety of jobs for someone elsefinny
having finsflagitious
cruel or wicked; notoriousflagons
containers for beverages, usually associated with alcoholic drinksgalligaskins
loose-fitting breeches or stockings worn by mengambols
playful leapingsgarish
overly ornamented or elaborategrampus
a large gray dolphingrapples
hooks, or holds with a hooked devicehoydens
an offensive term that deliberately insults young women’s self-control and thoughtfulnessindigence
destitution; extreme povertyinimical
unfavorable to something; hostileinsuperable
impossible to overcome or get rid ofinveteracy
tendency to be fixed in a habit or practice that is firmly establishedinvidious
unjust or unpleasant because likely to produce jealousy, resentment or hatred in othersirruption
a sudden, often violent appearance of somethingjerkin
a man’s close-fitting sleeveless tunic, often made of leatherjunto
a small group of people, especially one secretly assembled for a common goalmendicant
living on charityobsequious
submissive; excessively eager to please or obeypalsied
muscularly frozen, unable to be movedperegrinations
journeyspestilent
annoying or infuriatingpiscatory
related to fish or fishingprobity
absolute moral integrityprodigally
generously; extravagantlyquaffed
drank quickly or heartilyrefulgence
brilliant shiningroysters
ones who carouse or celebrate rowdilyrubicund
rosy-skinnedshoal
a large group of sea animals swimming togetherspar
a thick, strong pole used to support rigging on a shipsplenetic
bad-tempered, spitefultermagant
an offensive term used to insult a woman’s temperament, suggesting a propensity for arguing, criticizing, and quarrelingtorpor
lack of mental or physical energyuncouth
ill-mannered or awkwardverdure
the vivid green of vegetationverger
a church official who acts as a caretaker and attendantvernal
in springvicissitudes
unexpected changes, particularly in somebody’s fortunesvirago
an offensive term that deliberately insults a woman by implying that her temperament or behavior is violentvisages
faceswaits
a band of musicians who play and sing Christmas carols in the streetsweltering
surging, rollingRip Van Winkle and Other Stories Essays and Related Content
- Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories: Major Themes
- Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories: Questions
- Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
- Washington Irving: Biography
- Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories Summary
- About Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories
- Character List
- Glossary of Terms
- Major Themes
- Quotes and Analysis
- Summary and Analysis of "Rip Van Winkle"
- Summary and Analysis of "The Author's Account of Himself," "The Voyage," "Roscoe," and "The Wife"
- Summary and Analysis of "English Writers on America," "Rural Life in England," "The Broken Heart," and "The Art of Book Making"
- Summary and Analysis of "A Royal Poet," "The Country Church," and "The Widow and Her Son"
- Summary and Analysis of "A Sunday in London," "The Boar's Head Tavern, East Cheap," "The Mutability of Literature," and "Rural Funerals"
- Summary and Analysis of "The Inn Kitchen," "The Spectre Bridegroom," and "Westminster Abbey"
- Summary and Analysis of "Christmas," "The Stage Coach," "Christmas Eve," "Christmas Day," and "The Christmas Dinner"
- Summary and Analysis of "London Antiques," "Little Britain," and "Stratford-on-Avon"
- Summary and Analysis of "Traits of Indian Character" and "Philip of Pokanoket"
- Summary and Analysis of "John Bull," "The Pride of the Village," and "The Angler"
- Other Rip Van Winkles
- Related Links on Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories
- Suggested Essay Questions
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
- Author of ClassicNote and Sources
