Chapter 1 - The Professor and His Family

perpendicular

Intersecting at or forming right angles

facile

Too simplistic or easy

articulate

able to speak clearly and expressively

impetuous

acting or done quickly and without thought or care

ardor

intense and passionate feeling

sonorousness

deep sound

snuff

dust and/or small particulates

venial

easily excused or forgiven

distend

expand; swell out

disenchant

free from enthusiasm

imposing

grand and impressive in appearance

coveted

greedily desired or wished for

deplored

hated; resented

buttressed

held up, supported

enumerated

mention (a number of things) one by one

incessant

never stopping, going on all the time

miser

one who saves greedily

irretrievably

permanently; in a manner that cannot be reversed

utterance

something that is said

nitric acid

strong acid used to make fertilizers, explosives, and rust metals

complexion

texture and color of the skin of the face

gable

the part of a wall that encloses the end of a pitched roof

conjecture

to guess

abate

to lessen in violence or intensity