My
Hideous Progeny: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - Frankenstein: Full
Letter 1
Foreboding: n. 1. A dark sense of impending evil; premonition 2. An evil omen, portent
"You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings."
Satiate:
tr. v. To satisfy fully
Ardent: adj. Expressing or characterized by warmth of passion, emotion, or desire
"I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man."
Laborious: adj. Requiring or marked by long, hard work; labored
" These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or death and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river."
Inestimable:
adj.
Impossible to estimate or compute:
inestimable damage
" But, supposing all these conjectures to be false, you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation..."
Effusions: n. The act or an instance of effusing. Liquid or other matter poured from
" These visions faded when I persuaded, for the first time,
Letter 2
Assailed: tr. v. To attack with or as if with violent blows; assault. To attack verbally, as with ridicule or censure.
"...if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection. I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling.
Inexorable: adj. Not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless
" But the old man decidedly refused, thinking himself bound in honour to my friend; who, when he found the father inexorable, quitted his country, nor returned until he heard that his former mistress was married according to her inclinations."
Embarkation: v. tr. To set out on a venture; commence
"Those are as fixed as fate, and my voyage is only now delayed until the weather shall permit my embarkation."
Letter 3
Hitherto: adv. Until this time
" No incidents have hitherto befallen us that would make a figure in a letter. One or two stiff gales, and the springing of a leak, are accidents which experienced navigators scarcely remember to record..."
Letter 4
Apparition: n. A ghostly figure; a specter.
"We were, as we believed, many hundred miles from any land; but the apparition seemed to denote that it was not , in reality, so distant as we had supposed."
Solicitude: n. The state or quality of being concerned or attentive; eagerness
"Some of my comrades groaned, and my own mind began to grow watchful and anxious thoughts, when a strange sight suddenly attracted our attention and diverted our solicitude from our own situation."
Benevolence: n. An inclination or tendency to do kind of charitable acts
"...his whole countenance is lighted up, as
it were, with a beem of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equalled."
Conciliate: tr. v. 1. To overcome the distrust or badness of; placate 2. To regain (friendship, for example) by pleasant behavior; to reconcile
"Yet his manners are so conciliating and gentle that the sailors are all interested in him, although they have had very little communication with him."
Paroxysm:
n. A sudden outburst of emotion or action
"...the paroxysm of grief that had seized the stranger overcame his weakened powers, and many hours of repose and tranquil conversation were necessary to restore his composure."
Ardently: adv. With passion
"...I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been."
Harrowing: adj. Extremely distressing
"Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it--thus!"
Chapter 1
Indefatigable: adj. Incapable of being fatigued; tireless
"He was respected by all who knew him for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public business."
Disconsolate: adj. Beyond consolation; hopelessly sad
"During one of their walks a poor cot in the foldings of a yale attracted their notice as being singularly disconsolate..."
Chapter 2
Ardour: n. Great warmth, as of emotion or desire
"Elizabeth was of a calmer and more concentrated disposition; but, with all my ardour, I was capable of a more intense application and was more deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge."
Filial: adj. Of, pertaining to, or befitting a son or daughter
"When I mingled with other families I distingctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love."
Predilection: n. A partiality or disposition in favor of something; preference
"Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire, therefore, in this narration, to state those facts which led to my predilection for that science."
Repine: intr. v. To be discontented or low in spirits; complain or fret
"I had gazed upon the fortifications and impediments that seemed to keep human beings from entering the citadel [fortress] of nature, and rashly and ignorantly I had repined."
Aver:
tr. v. To declare in a positive manner; affirm
"I took their word for all that they averred, and I became their disciple."
Caprice: n. An impulsive change of one’s mind
Progeny: n. 1. Children or descendants 2. A result of a creative effort; product
"By one of those caprices of the mind which we are perhaps most subject to in early youth, I at once gave up my former occupations, set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation..."
Chapter 3
Respite: n. A usually short period of rest or relief
"I obtained from my father a respite of
some weeks."
Repose: n. Rest; calmness; tranquility
"It appeared to me sacrilege so soon to leave the repose, akin to death, of the house of mourning and to rush into the thick of life."
Ardently: adv. Of or with adore
"I ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge."
Imbue: tr. v. 1. To saturate, as with stain or dye 2. To inspire, permeate, or pervade
"He was an uncouth man, but deeply imbued in the secrets of his science."
Chimera: n. A creation of the imagination; an impossible and foolish fancy
"I was required to exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur for realities of little worth."
Chapter 4
Precept: n. A rule or principle imposing a particular standard of action or conduct
"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example..."
Physiognomy: one's face out of estimating character by certain characteristic
"...with a repulsive physiognomy and manner's ..."
Chapter 5
Pertinacity: n. The quality or state of holding firmly or tenaciously to a purpose, belief, or opinion
"...he at first believed them to be the wanderings of my disturbed imagination, but the pertinacity with which I continually recurred to the same subject persuaded him that my disorder indeed owed its origin to some uncommon and terrible event."
Palpitated: to beat rapidly and strongly; to shake, quiver of flare
"My heart palpitated in the sickness of fear, and I hurried on with irregular steps, not daring to look about me."
Chapter 6
Vacillate: tr. v. To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another; waver
"The poor woman was very vacillating in her repentence. She sometimes begged Justine to forgive her unkindness but much oftener accused her of having caused the deaths of her brothers and sister."
Encomium: n. Warm or glowing praise
"M. Krempe was not equally docile; and...his harsh, blunt encomiums gave me more pain than the benevolent approbation of M. Waldman."
Perambulation: n. A walk, stroll, or roam through or about
"We passed a fortnight in these perambulations; my health and spirits had been long restored..."
Chapter 7
Indelible: adj. Incapable of being removed, erased, or washed away; permanent
"Six years had elapsed, passed as a dream but for one indelible trace..."
Amiable: adj. Having a pleasant disposition; good-natured; cordial; sociable; congenial
"Indeed, who would credit that Justine Moritz, who was so amiable and fond of all the family, could suddenly become capable of so frightful, so appalling a crime?"
Chapter 8
Ignominy: n. Great personal dishonor or humiliation; shameful or disgraceful action, conduct, or character
"Could the demon who had (I did not for a minute doubt) murdered my brother also in his hellish sport have betrayed he innocent to death and ignominy?"
Besiege: trans verb. to surround with armed forces
"Every since I was condemned, my confessor has
besieged me..."
Lassitude: a state or feeling of being tired; weariness; langour
Chapter 9
Chamounix: a valley in East France, North of Mount Blanc: resort area of the French Alps.
" At length I arrived at the village of Chamounix..."
Precipices: a vertical, or overhanging rock faces or steep cliffs.\
" The immense mountains in precipices that overhung me on every side..."
Scaffold: a temporary or moveable platform for workers to stand or sit on when working at a height above the floor or ground.
" But even if I were condemned to suffer on the scaffold for the same crimes..."
Chapter 10
Imperial: adj. 1. Regal; majestic 2. Outstanding in size or quality
"...a few shattered pines were scattered around; and the solemn silence of this glorious presence-chamber of imperial nature was broken only by the brawling waves or the fall of some vast fragment..."
Odious: adj. Exciting hatred or repugnance
"But I consented to listen, and seating myself by the fire which my odious companion had lighted, he thus began his tale."
Chapter 11
Hovel : A small shed for sheltering animals or storing supplies.
Pandemonium: a capital in help in Milton's Paradise Lost
Tapers: waxed candle; especially long and slender ones.
Chapter 12
Viands: article of food
" ...they had a fire to warm them when chill, and delicious viands when hungry..."
Gait: a manner of walking or moving on foot; sequence of foot movements by whinch a horse or a dog moves forward.
"...their harsh manners and rude gaitonly enhanced to me the superior accomplishments of my friends."
Chapter 13
Conjecture: tr. v. To infer from inconclusive evidence; guess
"He sat up much longer, conversing with his father, and by frequent repetition of her name I conjectured that their lovely guest was the subject of their conversation."
Exhortation: n. 1 : an act or instance of exhorting 2 : language intended to incite and encourage
"The mild exhortations of the old man and
the lively conversation of the lovely Felix were not for me."
Chapter 14
Flagrant:
adj. conspicuously offensive <flagrant errors>; especially: so obviously
inconsistent with what is right or proper as to appear to be a flouting of law
or morality <flagrant violations of human rights>
"The injustice of his sentence was very
flagrant; all Paris was indignation; and it was judged that his religion and
wealth rather than the crime alleged against him had been the cause of his
condemnation."
Meed:
n. a fitting return or recompense
"He could have endured poverty, and
while this distress had been the meed of his virtue, he gloried in it; but the
ingratitude of the Turk and the loss of his beloved Safie were misfortunes more
bitter and irreparable."
Chapter 15
Deprecate: tr. v. 1. to express
disapproval of 2. a. PLAY DOWN: make little of <speaks five languages ... but
deprecates this facility -- Time> b. BELITTLE, DISPARAGE <the most reluctantly
admired and least easily deprecated of ... novelists -- New Yorker>
"It impressed me deeply. I learned,
from the views of social life which it developed, to admire their virtues and to
deprecate the vices of mankind."
Sagacity: n. the quality of being in possession of sound judgment and keen perception
"Besides, I found that my understanding improved so much with every day's experience that I was unwilling to commence this undertaking until a few more months should have added to my sagacity."
Transport: tr. v. 1. to transfer or
convey from one place to another <transporting ions across a living membrane>
2.to carry away with strong and often intensely pleasant emotion 3.to send to a
penal colony overseas
synonym see BANISH
" Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father,
to whose knees I clung; in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and
struck me violently with a stick. I could have torn him limb from limb, as the
lion rends the antelope."
Chapter 16
Myriad:
n. 1. ten thousand 2.a great number <a myriad of ideas>
" There was none among the myriads of
men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towards
my enemies? "
Imprecate: v. Transitive senses:
to invoke evil on : CURSE;
Intransitive senses: to utter curses
"Oh, earth! How often did I imprecate curses on the cause of my being!"
Precipitous:
adj. a. very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall b.
having precipitous sides c. having a very steep ascent
"She continued her course along the
precipitous sides of the river, when suddenly her foot slipped, and she fell
into the rapid stream."
Recompense: tr. v. 1 a : to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred) b : to pay for 2 : to return in kind
"I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone."
Chapter 17
Epithets:
n. 1 a : a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of
the name of a person or thing b : a disparaging or abusive word or phrase c :
the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus 2
obsolete : EXPRESSION
"The child still struggled and loaded
me with epithets which carried despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to
silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet."
Malignity: n. 1 : MALIGNANCY,
MALEVOLENCE 2 : an instance of malignant or malicious behavior or nature
"In spite of my malignity, it softened
and attracted me. "
Sanguinary:
adj. 1 : BLOODTHIRSTY, MURDEROUS <sanguinary hatred> 2 : attended by bloodshed :
BLOODY <this bitter and sanguinary war -- T. H. D. Mahoney> 3 : consisting of
blood <a sanguinary stream>
"Thanks to the lessons of Felix and the
sanguinary laws of man, I had learned now to work mischief."
Chapter 18
Treble: n. 1 a : the highest voice part in harmonic music : SOPRANO b : one that performs a treble part; also : a member of a family of instruments having the highest range c : a high-pitched or shrill voice, tone, or sound d : the upper half of the whole vocal or instrumental tonal range -- compare BASS e : the higher portion of the audio frequency range in sound recording and broadcasting 2 : something treble in construction, uses, amount, number, or value
"For some time I was lost in conjecture as to the cause of this, but yesterday an idea struck me, and if it is well founded, I conjure you to avow it. Reserve on such a point would be not only useless, but draw down treble misery on us all."
Dilatory:
adj. 1 : tending or intended to cause delay 2 : characterized by
procrastination : TARDY
"The latter method of obtaining the
desired intelligence was dilatory and unsatisfactory; besides, I had an
insurmountable aversion to the idea of engaging myself in my loathsome task in
my father's house while in habits of familiar intercourse with those I loved."
Aversion:
n. 1 obsolete : the act of turning away 2 a : a feeling of repugnance toward
something with a desire to avoid or turn from it b : a settled dislike : ANTIPATHY c
: a tendency to extinguish a behavior or to avoid a thing or situation and
especially a usually pleasurable one because it is or has been associated with a
noxious stimulus 3 : one that is the object of aversion
"The latter method of obtaining the
desired intelligence was dilatory and unsatisfactory; besides, I had an
insurmountable aversion to the idea of engaging myself in my loathsome task in
my father's house while in habits of familiar intercourse with those I loved."
Meander:
intr. v. 1 : to follow a winding or intricate course 2 : to wander aimlessly or
casually without urgent destination : RAMBLE
" In one spot you view rugged hills,
ruined castles overlooking tremendous precipices, with the dark Rhine rushing
beneath; and on the sudden turn of a promontory, flourishing vineyards with
green sloping banks and a meandering river and populous towns occupy the scene."
Precipice:
n. 1 : a very steep or overhanging place 2 : a hazardous situation; broadly :
BRINK
"Look at that castle which overhangs yon precipice; and that also on the island, almost concealed amongst the foliage of those lovely trees; and now that group of labourers coming from among their vines; and that village half hid in the recess of the mountain."
Chapter 19
Palpitate:
v. to beat rapidly and strongly : THROB
"Every thought that was devoted to it
was an extreme anguish, and every word that I spoke in allusion to it caused my
lips to quiver, and my heart to palpitate."
Ennui: n. a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction : BOREDOM
"During my youthful days discontent never visited my mind, and if I was ever overcome by ennui, the sight of what is beautiful in nature or the study of what is excellent and sublime in the productions of man could always interest my heart and communicate elasticity to my spirits."
Languid:
adj. 1 : drooping or flagging from or as if from exhaustion : WEAK 2 : sluggish
in character or disposition : LISTLESS 3 : lacking force or quickness of
movement : SLOW
"I visited Edinburgh with languid eyes
and mind; and yet that city might have interested the most unfortunate being."
Remonstrate:
intransitive senses : to present and urge reasons in opposition : EXPOSTULATE --
usually used with with
transitive senses : to say or plead in protest, reproof, or opposition
"Henry wished to dissuade me, but
seeing me bent on this plan, ceased to remonstrate."
Tumult:
n. 1 a : disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar
and confusion of voices : COMMOTION b : a turbulent uprising 3 a : violent agitation of mind or feelings b : a violent outburst
"Its fair lakes reflect a blue and
gentle sky, and when troubled by the winds, their tumult is but as the play of a
lively infant when compared to the roarings of the giant ocean."
Chapter 20
Propagate:
v. trans
1 : to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction
"Even if they were to leave Europe and
inhabit the deserts of the new world, yet one of the first results of those
sympathies for which the demon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils
would be propagated upon the earth who might make the very existence of the
species of man a condition precarious and full of terror."
Condescension: n. 1 : voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in relations with an inferior 2 : patronizing attitude or behavior
"Slave, I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension. Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!"
Insuperable:
adj. incapable of being surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved
<insuperable difficulties>
"I left the house, the horrid scene of
the last night's contention, and walked on the beach of the sea, which I almost
regarded as an insuperable barrier between me and my fellow creatures; nay, a
wish that such should prove the fact stole across me."
Besought:
v. transitive senses
1 : to beg for urgently or anxiously 2 : to request earnestly : IMPLORE
intransitive senses : to make supplication
"He besought me, therefore, to leave my
solitary isle and to meet him at Perth, that we might proceed southwards
together. "
Chapter 21
Assize:
n. 1 a : a judicial inquest b : an action to be decided by such an inquest, the
writ for instituting it, or the verdict or finding rendered by the jury 2 a :
the former periodical sessions of the superior courts in English counties for
trial of civil and criminal cases -- usually used in plural b : the time or
place of holding such a court, the court itself, or a session of it -- usually
used in plural
"The season of the assizes approached."
Vexations:
n. a cause of trouble; affliction
"My father was enraptured on finding me
freed from the vexations of a criminal charge, that I was again allowed to
breathe the fresh atmosphere and permitted to return to my native country."
Inquietude:
n. disturbed state : DISQUIETUDE
"Still, as I urged our leaving Ireland
with such inquietude and impatience, my father thought it best to yield."
Chapter 22
Imperious: adj. 1 : befitting or
characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments : COMMANDING, DOMINANT <an
imperious manner> b : marked by arrogant assurance : DOMINEERING
2 : intensely compelling : URGENT <the imperious problems of the new age -- J.
F. Kennedy>
"By the utmost self-violence I curbed
the imperious voice of wretchedness, which sometimes desired to declare itself
to the whole world, and my manners were calmer and more composed than they had
ever been since my journey to the sea of ice."
Paradisiacal: adj. of, relating to, or resembling paradise
"I read and reread her letter, and some softened feelings stole into my heart and dared to whisper paradisiacal dreams of love and joy; but the apple was already eaten, and the angel's arm bared to drive me from all hope."
Chapter 23
Obstinate:
adj. 1 : perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of
reason, arguments, or persuasion
2 : not easily subdued, remedied, or removed <obstinate fever>
"Could I behold this and live? Alas!
Life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated."
Acme:
n. the highest point or stage; also : one that represents perfection of the
thing
"Mine has been a tale of horrors; I have reached their acme, and what I must now relate can but be tedious to you."
Auditor:
n. 1 : a person authorized to examine and verify accounts
2 : one that hears or listens; especially : one that is a member of an audience
3 : a person who audits a course of study : a person who hears (as a court case)
in the capacity of judge
"This address caused a considerable change in the physiognomy of my own auditor."
Chapter 24
Adjuration:
n. 1 : a solemn oath 2 : an earnest urging or advising
"I had begun my adjuration with
solemnity and an awe which almost assured me that the shades of my murdered
friends heard and approved my devotion, but the furies possessed me as I
concluded, and rage choked my utterance."
Protraction: n. 1 : the act of
protracting : the state of being protracted
2 : the drawing to scale of an area of land
"By the quantity of provision which I
had consumed, I should guess that I had passed three weeks in this journey; and
the continual protraction of hope, returning back upon the heart, often wrung
bitter drops of despondency and grief from my eyes."
Imprecation: n. 1 : CURSE 2 : the act of imprecating
"Sometimes he commanded his countenance and tones and related the most horrible incidents with a tranquil voice, suppressing every mark of agitation; then, like a volcano bursting forth, his face would suddenly change to an expression of the wildest rage as he shrieked out imprecations on his persecutor."
Despondency:
n.: the state of being despondent : DEJECTION, HOPELESSNESS
"Despondency rarely visited my heart; a
high destiny seemed to bear me on, until I fell, never, never again to rise."
Irretrievable: adj. not retrievable : impossible to regain or recover
"What does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! He is cold, he cannot answer me."
Insatiable: adj. incapable of being satisfied : QUENCHLESS <had an insatiable desire for wealth>
"But when I discovered that he, the author at once of my existence and of its unspeakable torments, dared to hope for happiness, that while he accumulated wretchedness and despair upon me he sought his own enjoyment in feelings and passions from the indulgence of which I was forever barred, then impotent envy and bitter indignation filled me with an insatiable."
Opprobrium:
n. 1 : something that brings disgrace 2 a : public disgrace or ill fame that
follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious b : CONTEMPT, REPROACH
"I am content to suffer alone while my
sufferings shall endure; when I die, I am well satisfied that abhorrence and
opprobrium should load my memory. Once my fancy was soothed with dreams of
virtue, of fame, and of enjoyment. Once I falsely hoped to meet with beings who,
pardoning my outward form, would love me for the excellent
qualities which I was capable of unfolding."
Contumely:
n. harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt; also : an
instance of such language or treatment
"Why do you not hate Felix, who drove his friend from his door with
contumely?"
Also link to:
http://www.cibacs.org/teacherpages/jbronkar/PDFs/Frankenstein Vocabulary List.pdf
Vocabulary list
The number of times each word is used throughout book
Frankenstein: The Making of a Monster - Vocabulary (9-12 - literature)
Vocabulary Chapters 9-12 & can hear how word is pronounced
Frankenstein: The Making of a Monster - Vocabulary (6-8, 9-12 - literature)
Vocabulary Chapters 6-8 & can see how word is pronounced