<p> The Scarlet Letter Vocabulary Chapters 5-8</p><p>CHAPTER FIVE</p><p>1. VIVIFY: to endure with life or renew life; animate. Context: Hester becomes the personification of women’s negative qualities for some townspeople. The narrator says she is there to “vivify and embody their images of woman's frailty and sinful passion” ( ). 2. INSCRUTABLE: not easily understood or interpreted Context: After her prison sentence, Hester is not forced to stay in the settlement. The narrator mentions that the dark, inscrutable forest [is] open to her” ( ). 3. UNCONGENIAL: unfriendly. Context: The narrator continues to discuss how the colonists view the forest as inscrutable and uncongenial ( ). 4. PROGENITORS: an ancestor in the direct line; forefather. Context: The narrator is discussing the Puritans as our “stern progenitors,” reminding us that we are descendants of them ( ). 5. PLEBEIAN: one of the common people. Context: Ruffs and ornate gloves were allowed to the magistrates and other high-level people, but laws prohibited common, plebian people from wearing fancy clothes ( ). 6. COMMISERATION to feel or express sympathy Context: Hester’s sewing and embroidery becomes fashionable. The narrator offers a theory; perhaps people commiserate with her because of her punishment ( ). 7. TALISMAN: something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects. Context: The scarlet letter seems to carry magical effects for the wearer and viewers ( ).</p><p>CHAPTER SIX</p><p>8.EFFICACY: effectiveness Context: The narrator mentions that the “scarlet letter, which had such potent and disastrous efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her.” It is an effective way to stop most people from feeling sorry for her ( ). 9. IMBUED: inspired as with feelings, opinions, etc. Context: Pearl’s personality was inspired or “imbued with a spell of infinite variety” ( ). The narrator is saying she has many personalities in the body of one child. 10. EPOCH: a point in time Context: Pearl’s wild character is thought to be connected to Hester’s wild experiences at the epoch of the sin and punishment ( ) 11. CAPRICE: a sudden, impulsive change; whim. Context: This word is frequently connected to Pearl. “Caprice … ruled” Pearl’s character ( ).</p><p>12. DEARTH: scarcity, lack, or famine. Context: Because Pearl has no young friends, she has a dearth of friends ( ). 13. GESTICULATION: expression through gestures, movements. Context: Pearl’s odd movement is described as a “humorsome gesticulation” ( ). 14. LABYRINTH: any intricate or perplexing set of difficulties; maze. Context: Hester is unsure how to handle Pearl’s comment about having no heavenly father. Hester is in a “labyrinth of doubt” about saying the right comments to Pearl ( ).</p><p>CHAPTER SEVEN 15. WAN: pale or sickly. Context: Pearl lacked wan in her cheeks. She was colorful and vibrant ( ). 16. GILDED: to overlay with or as if with a thin covering of gold. Context: Governor Bellingham had gilded books in his expensive mansion ( ). 17. EXIGENCES: a state of affairs that makes urgent demands. Context: Since, “the exigencies of this new country had transformed Governor Bellingham into a soldier,” he is no longer just an educated lawyer ( ).</p><p>CHAPTER EIGHT</p><p>18. PIOUS: of or pertaining to religious devotion. Context: Hester is described as “the daughter of a pious home” to show she has a religious past ( ). 19. EMACIATED: to make very thin, as to lack of nutrition or to disease. Context: Dimmesdale is starting to look more emaciated ( ).</p>