FRANKENSTEIN – VOCABULARY MEMO

VOLUME 1

Chapter 1

Page 33
Indefatigable – unable to be tired out
Disposition – a person’s usual frame of mind or a habit of a person, acquired tendency

Page 34
Sustenance – means of sustaining health, life, nourishment, livelihood (means of maintenance)
Adversity – distress, affliction, hardship or an unfortunate event/incident
Interment – burial, esp. with ceremonial rites
Doating – (same as to ‘dote’) meaning to love to an excessive or foolish degree

Page 35
Hitherto – until this time, to this place or point (archaic word)

Page 36
Disconsolate – sad beyond comfort, dejected
Penury – extreme poverty, scarcity

Page 37
Chamois – it’s a sure-footed goat antelope (soft suede leather was formerly made from the hide
of this animal); a yellow to greyish yellow colour
Apparition – an appearance of a ghostlike figure, the act of being visible

Chapter 2

Page 38
Ardour – feelings of great intensity and warmth, fervour; eagerness and great zeal

Page 39
Caprice – whims; or a sudden change in attitude, behaviour etc (AN: in this case, I’m guessing
the novel is referring to the first definition- ‘whims’)
Filial – (adjective) of, resembling, or suitable to a son or daughter

Page 40
Predilection – a predisposition, preference or bias
Inclemency – harsh, severe, stormy, tempestuous
Apathy – absence of interest of or enthusiasm for things that are generally considered interesting
or moving (absence of emotion)

Page 41
Chimerical – wildly fanciful, imaginary; indulging in fantasies
Avidity – with great keen and enthusiasm
Imbued – to instil or inspire (with ideals, principles etc)
Tyros – a novice or beginner
Lineaments – distinctive characteristics or features
Citadel – a strongly fortified building or place of safety (AN: how it relates to the quote in the
book ‘citadel of nature’ I have no idea)
Repined – to have been fretful or low-spirited through discontent
Averred – to have stated positively, to allege as a fact or prove to be true

Page 42
Slough – despair or degradation
Multifarious – having many parts of variety
Ardent – expressive of intense desire or emotion; passionate

Page 43
Galvanism – refers to electricity, esp. when produced by chemical means as in a cell/battery. In
Medical terms, it refers to treatment involving the application of electric currents to tissues

Chapter 3

Page 48
Chimeras – according to Greek mythology, it’s a fire-breathing monster with a head of a lion,
body of a goat and tail of a serpent – a fabulous beast made up of parts from various other
animals. It also means a grotesque product of the imagination. In Biology terms, it’s an
organism, esp. a cultivated plant, consisting of at least two genetically different kinds of tissue as
a result of mutation, grafting, etc
(AN: I’m so confused why M. Shelley used this weird word in the quotes below, I think the
definition ‘grotesque product of the imagination’ is most likely being referred to)
‘I was required to exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur for realities of little worth’ and on
page 49 the quote, ‘that the elixir of life is a chimera.’

Page 49
Panegyric – a public formal commendation (meaning with praise & approval)
Mien- a person’s manner, bearing or appearance, expressing personality or mood
Affability – warmth & friendliness; easy to converse with, approachable

Page 50
Deference –compliance with the will/wishes of another; courteous regard; respect

Chapter 4

Page 51
Physiognomy – a person’s features/characteristic expression considered as an indication of
personality; the art or practice of judging character from facial features
Dogmatism – characterised by making authoritative or arrogant assertions/opinions
Pedantry – being in the display of useless knowledge or minute observance of petty rules/details
Abstruse – not easy to understand

Page 53
Minutiae – small, precise or trifling details

Page 54
Infallible – not liable to error, failure, completely dependable and trustworthy
Precepts – a rule or principle for action, a guide or rule for morals; a direction esp. for technical
operation
Incessantly – not ceasing, continual

Page 55
Emaciated – to become abnormally thin
Page 56
Procrastinate – to put of an action until a later time; delay

Chapter 5

Page 59
Lassitude – physical or mental weariness
Dante – it’s the name of an Italian poet famous for an allegorical account of his journey through
Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.

Page 63
Convalescence – gradual return to health after illness, injury or an operation, the period during
which such recovery occurs

Chapter 6

Page 66
Placid – easy-going, docile, having a calm nature

Page 67
Vivacity – liveliness, exuberance, full of high spirits and animation
Vacillating – inclined to waver, indecisive (unable to make up your mind)

Page 71
Salubrious – favourable to health; wholesome, respectable, decent, hygienic, healthy

Page 72
Ingenuity – inventive talent, cleverness; Archaic Meaning: frankness, honesty & candour (AN: I
personally think it’s referring to the archaic meaning and not the first definition)

Page 76
Cabriolet – a small two-wheeled horse drawn carriage with two seats and a folding hood
Decisive – influential, conclusive, characterised by the ability to make decisions; resolute

Page 77
Promontory – a high point of land esp. of rocky coast that juts out into the area

Page 78
Precipices – the steep sheer face of a cliff OR crag or a precarious (unstable & risky) situation

Chapter 8

Page 83
Infamy – the state or condition of being infamous; an infamous act or event
Ignominious – disgraceful, causing public shame, dishonourable, humiliating
Exculpated – to free from blame or guilt, to pardon, acquit, to exonerate (the antonym: convict)
Execrated – loathed, detested, abhorred, to have cursed and damned a person/thing

Page 85   Means it holds religious

Timorous – fearful or timid connotations – directly to do with the
Church
Page 88
Absolution – release from guilt, obligation, or punishment 
Besieged – to have crowded round victim to bring about surrender; to overwhelm with requests
or queries
Excommunication – to sentence (a member of the church) to exclusion from the communion of
believers & from privileges & public prayers of the church 
Obdurate – not easily moved by feelings, hard-hearted; impervious to persuasion esp. to moral
persuasion
Perdition – another word for hell, (Christianity) a final & irrevocable spiritual ruin 

Page 90
Inexorable – not able to be moved by entreaty or persuasion; relentless
Unhallowed – not consecrated or holy; sinful or profane (irreligious, wicked, sacrilegious) 

VOLUME 2

Chapter 1

Page 93
Complacency – a feeling of satisfaction; smugness
Fortitude – strength & firmness of mind; resolute endurance

Page 94
Fiend – the devil; Satan

Page 95
Obscure – unclear or abstruse, vague or indefinite
Efface – to obliterate, rub out and eradicate
Sacrilege – the misuse of anything regarded as sacred or as worthy of extreme respect

Page 97
Ephemeral – lasting only for a short time, momentary
Epoch – a point in time beginning a new or distinctive period
Impetuous – liable to act without consideration; rash & impulsive

Page 98
Fettered –restrained & confined
Pallid – lacking colour, brightness or vigour

Chapter 2

Page 100
Ascent – an upward slope, incline or gradient
Precipitous – resembling a precipice (see V1, Ch 6, Pg 78); also means very steep & hasty

Page 103
Recompense – to pay or reward for service; to compensate for a loss
Commiserate – to feel or express sympathy/compassion

Page 104
Odious – offensive, repugnant (revolting, hideous, vile etc)
Chapter 3

Page 108
Debilitated – to make feeble, weaken

Page 109
Purloined – to take dishonestly; steal
Incommoded – to bother, disturb or to make inconvenient

Chapter 5

Page 122
Scion – a descendent, heir, or young member of a family (AN: I believe the novel is referring to
the first definition)
Abject – utterly wretched or hopeless, miserable, forlorn and dejected

Page 123
Vagabond – a person with no fixed home; an idle wandering beggar or thief
Coarser – lacking refinement, rough in texture, structure etc

Chapter 6

Page 125
Flagrant – blatant; glaring; outrageous

Page 127
Indelibly – permanently, lastingly, for always
Infantile – childishly immature
Emulation – the act of imitating; the effort or desire to equal or surpass another or others;
jealous rivalry (Archaic Meaning)

Page 129
Expostulate – to argue or reason with
Mandate – an official or authoritative instruction or command

Chapter 7

Page 130
Leathern – (Archaic) made of or resembles leather
Portmanteau – a large travelling case made of stiff leather
Hovel – a ramshackle dwelling place; an open shed for livestock, carts etc

Page 133
Indelible – incapable of being erased or obliterated
Sagacity – foresight, discernment, or keen perception, ability to make good judgement

VOLUME 3

Chapter 1

Page 159
Sedulous – constant or persistent in use or attention; assiduous; diligent
Indolence – disliking work or effort, laziness, idleness, torpor (inactive)
Page 160
Variegated – displaying differently coloured spots, patches, streaks etc

Chapter 3

Page 171
Sophisms – an argument that is deliberately invalid, specious (false, inaccurate, sham) or
misleading

Page 174
Insuperable – incapable of being overcome; insurmountable
Spectre – a ghost, phantom, apparition; a mental image of something unpleasant or menacing

Page 177
Debility – weakness or infirmity (frailty, ill health)

Chapter 4

Page 186
Assizes – (formerly set in England & Wales) the sessions, usually held 4 times a year, of the
principal court in each country, exercising civil & criminal jurisdiction attended by itinerant
(wandering, travelling) judges, replaced in 1971 by crown courts.

Page 187
Torpor – similar to indolence: inactive, sluggish, and lethargic
Inquietude – restlessness, uneasiness or anxiety

Chapter 5

Page 196
Artifice – crafty or subtle deception

Chapter 6

Page 201
Oar – a long shaft of wood for propelling a boat by rowing, having a broad blade that is dipped
into and pilled against the water
Acme – the culminating point, as of achievement or excellence; summit/peak

Chapter 7

Page 211
Disencumbered – to free from encumbrances (difficulties)

Page 212
Imprecations – swearing, maledictions, curses, to invoke or bring down (evil, curse)

Page 213
Posterity – future or succeeding generations
Destitute – lacking the means of sustenance; totally impoverished
Page 216
Deputation – the act of appointing a person or body of people to represent or at on behalf of
other
Immured – to enclose within walls; imprison; to shut oneself away from society

Page 219
Adversary – a person or group who that is hostile to someone; enemy
Paramount – of the greatest importance & significance; pre-eminent (unsurpassed)

Page 223
Opprobrium – the state of being abused or scornfully criticised; a cause of disgrace or ignominy

Page 224
Contumely – scornful or insulting language or behaviour

Page 225
Conflagration – a large destructive fire; to be burnt up