image imageLiterature Guides

Heart of Darkness Vocab

assegais
spear; javelin
august
majestic; marked by dignity or grandeur
connoisseur
expert
declivity
downward slop
detonation
explosion; rapid combustion in an internal engine that causes knocking; to set off activity
diaphanous
transparent; delicacy of form
digressions
going backwards in literary discourse
drollery
quirky humor
emissary
spy
estuary
river meets sea; tide meets current
ichthyosaurus
prehistoric reptile; aquatic abilities and streamlined body
immutability
impossible to change
indefatigable
unable to become tired
insidious
treacherous; harmful but enticing
interminable
having or seeming to have no end; especially wearisomely protracted
moribund
dying; approaching death
precedence
priority; of importance
primeval
primitive; earliest ages
altruistic
unselfish
edifying
establishing; enlightening
evanescent
tending to vanish like vapor
fortitude
strength of mind
fusillade
a lot of shots fired simultaneously
harlequin
comic character
imbecility
utter foolishness; futility
incontinently
without moral constraint
penetrable
capable of seeing into or through
peroration
highly rhetorical speech
pestiferous
carrying disease; troublesome; annoying
preeminently
having paramount rank or importance
repulsive
tending to repel or reject
rudimentary
primitive
serried
crowded together
stanchions
an upright support for a roof
sustenance
a means of support or maintenance
unfathomable
impossible to comprehend
untrammeled
unrestrained
wraith
ghost
culminated
reaching decisive point
intrepidity
fearlessness; endurance
modulated
toned down; keep in proportion; pass from one state to another
absconded
flee and hide; depart secretly
circuitous
indirect
denominate
assigned a title; to name
factitious
artificial; produced by humans rather than by nature
fecund
productive; fruitful
flaunting
showing off
jocose
humorous; joking
litany
a repetitive chant
motley
diverse; mixture of incongruous elements
noxious
harmful
pauper
poor person
satanic
evil; characteristic of Satan
satiated
satisfied fully
scathing
bitterly severe
senile
old
suavely
smoothly; sophisticated
tenebrous
gloomy; shut off from light
tepid
moderately warm
unscathed
unharmed
ascendancy
domination; controlling influence
callous
insensitive; feeling no emotions
evanescence
vanishing; like vapor
obsequiously
obedient; over-attentive
rapacity
quality of being ravenous
recrudescence
a return of something; new action after a period of inactivity
sepulcher
a burial place
servile
too obedient; slave-like
suggestive
stimulating thought; indicative
superciliousness
arrogance; patronizingly haughty
uncongenial
unfriendly; unsympathetic; not compatible
visitation
a visit from an official; severe trial; affliction
beguiled
charmed or deceived
demoralization
ruin somebody morally
imperceptible
tiny; not easily perceived by the mind or senses
lugubrious
gloomy; sad or mournful
prevaricator
a person who lies constantly
propensity
natural tendency
sedentary
inactive; doing nothing; sitting; requiring little movement
sententiously
terse
transgression
sin
wantonly
undisciplined; lavish; extravagent
partner
Busy at work, have a lot on your plate, in addition, your paper is due?
Get professional help with paper Get help
*EduBirdie as a Premium Partner was chosen among 50+ writing services by our Customer Satisfaction Team.