Persian Letters Glossary

Persian Letters Glossary

waver

to become weaker or express uncertainty

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

tender

showing gentleness, kindness

multiplicity

abundance

tranquility

being at peace

exacerbated

aggravate a situation

mortifications

great embarrassment and shame

mollah

An Islamic intellectual and religious leader, often regarded as an authority on history or Islamic law. Sometimes spelled as "mullah".

seraglio

An enclosed house or compound for a single family of a wealthy Persian man such as Usbek. The seraglio is home to his wives, at least one of whom has at least one daughter, and also their female slaves. The only men permitted entry are relatives, Usbek himself, or the eunuchs.

eunuch

A eunuch is a man who has been castrated, generally at an early age. In the former Ottoman Empire and elsewhere, young boys were frequently castrated so as to make them eligible for top political or administrative offices. Lacking the ability to impregnate a woman or to have normal sexual relations, eunuchs were regarded as appropriate bodyguards and servants for women.

rake

A man whose sole occupation, and in some cases his chief source of income, is the seduction of women. Regarded as an immoral pleasure-seeker, a rake is in some respects the male equivalent of a courtesan.

laborious

Characterized by a long period of strenuous effort or labor

pilgrimage

A holy journey of truth-seeking and enlightenment wherein a person travels to a significant site in hopes of gaining spiritual benefit. One of the seven Pillars of Islam is the moral obligation of all Muslims to make such a journey to Mecca. This journey is called "Hajj".

insurmountable

impossible to overcome

vermilion (also spelled "vermillion")

A bright red, with orange undertones as opposed to blue.

chagrin

frustrated, annoyed, and possibly embarrassed due to some disappointment or failure

virtue

positive quality, generally of the human character

infidelity

unfaithfulness, generally in a sexual or romantic context

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