Vocabulary and Context from 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens, Apuntes de Lengua y Literatura

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Victorian Vocabulary Great Expectations HR Semester 2020- FALL

VICTORIAN VOCABULARY

1. Choleric- easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger Pg. 188 Hereupon, a choleric gentleman, who had taken the fourth place on that seat, flew into a most violent passion, and said that it was a breach of contract to mix him up with such villainous company, and that it was poisonous, and pernicious, and infamous, and shameful, and I don't know what else. 2. Alder-trees- An alder is a species of tree or shrub that grows especially in cool, damp places and loses its leaves in winter. Pg. 3 I pointed to where our village lay, on the flat in-shore among the alder-trees and pollards, a mile or more from the church

3. Apothecary - one who prepares drugs and medicines, sometimes made house calls, and gave advice concerning medical conditions; lowest order of medical man. Pg. 8 Then she took some butter (not too much) on a knife and spread it on the loaf, in an apothecary kind of way, as if she were making a plaster
4. Larceny- theft of personal property. Pg. 7 For the fugitive out on the marshes with the ironed leg, the mysterious young man, the file, the food, and the dreadful pledge I was under to commit a larceny on those sheltering premises, rose before me in the avenging coals.
5. Ginger-beer - non-alcoholic beverage flavored with ginger. Pg. Raymond is a witness ginger-beer and sal volatile I am obligated to take in the night.
6. Akimbo - having the hand on the hip and the elbow turned outward. Pg. 204

12. Melancholy- a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression. Pg. "No, ma'am, I am very sorry for you, and very sorry I can't play just now. If you complain of me I shall get into trouble with my sister, so I would do it if I could; but it's so new here, and so strange, and so fine,—and melancholy—." 13. Collision- the act of colliding; a coming violently into contact; crash. Pg. 7 Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane, worn smooth by collision with my tickled frame

14. Cravat - a fine scarf worn around the neck and tied in a bow. Pg. 13 " One black ox, with a white cravat on,—who even had to my awakened conscience something of a clerical air,—fixed me so obstinately with his eyes, and moved his blunt head round in such an accusatory manner as I moved round, that I blubbered out to him, "I couldn't help it, sir!
15. Bow Bells - The bells of the church of St. Mary Le Bow, Cheapside, in the City of London. Pg. A true Cockney was said to be born within hearing of the Bow bells.
16. Bootjack - device used to remove boots. Pg. Joe held my head under her arm, as a boot would be held in bootjack.
17. Boots - a person who cleans shoes. Pg. 136 Sam Weller is 'boots' at the White Hart Inn in Pickwick castor - small bottle or jar with a perforated top used for sprinkling pepper, sugar, etc. on food.
18. Ravenous - extremely hungry

Pg. 3 When the church came to itself,—for he was so sudden and strong that he made it go head over heels before me, and I saw the steeple under my feet,—when the church came to itself, I say, I was seated on a high tombstone, trembling while he ate the bread ravenously.

19. Impregnable - incapable of being attacked or tampered with Pg. 6 She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles.
20. Scrutiny - a prolonged intense look Pg. 16 The man stopped eating, and regarded me with the keenest scrutiny and the greatest surprise.
21. Aberration - a disorder in one's mental state Pg. 101 However, her temper was greatly improved, and she was patient. A tremulous uncertainty of the action of all her limbs soon became a part of her regular state, and afterwards, at intervals of two or three months, she would often put her hands to her head, and would then remain for about a week at a time in some gloomy aberration of mind.
22. Encumbered -loaded to excess or impeded by a heavy load Pg. 333 You are to understand, first, that it is the request of the person from whom I take my instructions, that you always bear the name of Pip. You will have no objection, I dare say, to your great expectations being encumbered with that easy condition.
23. Altercation - a noisy quarrel Pg. 100 Besides, there had been no altercation; the assailant had come in so silently and suddenly, that she had been felled before she could look round.

Then, we went into the hut, where there was a smell of tobacco and whitewash, and a bright fire, and a lamp, and a stand of muskets, and a drum, and a low wooden bedstead, like an overgrown mangle without the machinery, capable of holding about a dozen soldiers all at once.

30. Reel - to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc. Pg. Sarah Pocket came to the gate, and positively reeled back when she saw me so changed; her walnut-shell countenance likewise turned from brown to green and yellow
31. Sagacious - acutely insightful and wise Pg. 38 Yet he would smoke his pipe at the Battery with a far more sagacious air than anywhere else,—even with a learned air,—as if he considered himself to be advancing immensely.
32. Retributive - given or inflicted in requital according to merits or deserts Pg. 88 There may be black ingratitude in the thing, and the punishment may be retributive and well deserved; but, that it is a miserable thing, I can testify.
33. Trepidation - a feeling of alarm or dread Pg. 77 For some days, I even kept close at home, and looked out at the kitchen door with the greatest caution and trepidation before going on an errand, lest the officers of the County Jail should pounce upon me.
34. Propitiation - the act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity Pg. 102 She watched his countenance as if she were particularly wishful to be assured that he took kindly to his reception, she showed every possible desire to conciliate him, and there was an air of humble propitiation in all she did, such as I have seen pervade the bearing of a child towards a hard master.
35. Benevolent - showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding

Pg. 86 One person of mild and benevolent aspect even gave me a tract ornamented with a woodcut of a malevolent young man fitted up with a perfect sausage-shop of fetters, and entitled, TO BE READ IN MY CELL.

36. Snuffers - device used to extinguish a candle. Pg. 60 —being but faintly illuminated through the agency of one low-spirited dipcandle and no snuffers.
37. Ostentatious - intended to attract notice and impress others Pg. 82 I am not quite clear whether these articles were carried penitentially or ostentatiously; but, I rather think they were displayed as articles of property--much as Cleopatra or any other sovereign lady on the Rampage might exhibit her wealth in a pageant or procession.
38. Obtrude - thrust oneself in as if by force Pg. 75 I was secretly afraid of him when I saw him so dexterous; but, I felt morally and physically convinced that his light head of hair could have had no business in the pit of my stomach, and that I had a right to consider it irrelevant when so obtruded on my attention.
39. Stile - steps in a fence over which people could pass but livestock could not. Pg. 108 When we came near the churchyard, we had to cross an embankment, and get over a stile near a sluice-gate.
40. Dexterous - skillful or adroit in the use of the hands or body. Pg. I was secretly afraid of him when I saw him so dexterous; but, I felt morally and physically convinced that his light head of hair could have had no business in the pit of my stomach, and that I had a right to consider it irrelevant when so obtruded on my attention.

Pg. 156 Behind the furthest end of the brewery, was a rank garden with an old wall; not so high but that I could struggle up and hold on long enough to look over it, and see that the rank garden was the garden of the house, and that it was overgrown with tangled weeds, but that there was a track upon the green and yellow paths, as if someone sometimes walked there, and that Estella was walking away from me even then.

47. Omnipotent - almighty or infinite in power, as God. Pg. 23 But, Uncle Pumblechook, who was omnipotent in that kitchen, wouldn't hear the word, wouldn't hear of the subject, imperiously waved it all away with his hand, and asked for hot gin and water.
48. Notions - mainly US and Canadian pins, cotton, ribbon, and similar wares used for sewing; haberdashery Pg. 34 Neither were my notions of the theological positions to which my Catechism bound me, at all accurate; for, I have a lively remembrance that I supposed my declaration that I was to "walk in the same all the days of my life," laid me under an obligation always to go through the village from our house in one particular direction, and never to vary it by turning down by the wheelwright's or up by the mill.
49. Nosegays - small bouquet of flowers Pg. 379 The sheriffs with their great chains and nosegays, other civic gewgaws and monsters, criers, ushers, a great gallery full of people,—a large theatrical audience, — looked on, as the two-and-thirty and the Judge were solemnly confronted.
50. Solemnly - in a gravely or somberly impressive manner. Pg. The sheriffs with their great chains and nosegays, other civic gewgaws and monsters, criers, ushers, a great gallery full of people,—a large theatrical audience, — looked on, as the two-and-thirty and the Judge were solemnly confronted.

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