Therese Raquin

Therese Raquin Glossary

acrid

sharp to the sense of smell or taste, heavy or pungent

beatitude

a state of blessedness, calm, or sanctified privilege

dejection

a feeling of sorrow or loss; depression or lamentation

effusive

expressing readily, spontaneously, and openly; communicative in an overwhelming way

franc

the basic unit of money or currency in 19th-century France

grotesque

exaggerated in a disturbing or unpleasant way, often having to do with physical appearance; gruesome; caricatured

haberdasher

a merchant or shopkeeper who sells small items related to clothing, such as ribbons, buttons, and sewing materials

Jardin des Plantes

literally "the garden of plants": a botanical garden in Paris notable for its variety of trees and flowers, as well as its zoo

languor

tiredness or laziness

Latin Quarter

an area in central Paris situated on the Seine River; also famous as the site of one of the city's major educational institutions, the Sorbonne University

lethargy

laziness, exhaustion, or weariness

lucrative

profitable or financially advantageous

manifesto

a document or declaration setting forth the essential beliefs, aims, and course of action of a group or organization

morgue

a facility where dead bodies are housed for identification purposes, and occasionally displayed; in Paris, a structure built in 1864 on one of the Seine's islands

pallid

pale, often in a way that indicates sickness or infirmity

repugnant

repulsive or disgusting

reverie

a daydream or whimsical recollection

Rue

"street"

sanguine

healthy and hopeful; also used repeatedly to describe Laurent's temperament

Seine

the major river that flows through the center of Paris, and extends well beyond the city for a full length of almost 500 miles

temperament

personality or character type; in Zola's usage, a theory of psychological and physical traits that enjoyed some popularity in the 19th century