28 October 2004
Individual vs. Community: Vocabulary (SL)
1. vigils
Page: 119
Context: “By those best acquainted with his habits, the paleness of the young minister’s cheek was accounted for by his too earnest devotion to study, his scrupulous fulfillment of parochial duty, and more than all, by the fasts and vigils of which he made a frequent practice…”
Context Definition: religious duties or ceremonies pertaining to the church
Etymology: from Latin vigilia "watch, watchfulness," from vigil "watchful, awake" which became “eve of a religious festival” in Anglo-French
English Definition: Ritual devotions observed on the eve of a holy day
Sentence: The priest became preoccupied with the vigils of this past Sunday.
2. tremulous
Page: 119
Context: “But how could the young minister say so, when, with every successive Sabbath, his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before…”
Context Definition: shaky
Etymology: from Latin tremulus "shaking, quivering" (tremere; “to tremble”)
English Definition: marked by trembling, quivering, or shaking
Sentence: Her tremulous lips soon turned blue due to the cold temperatures.
3. celibacy
Page: 124
Context: “…he rejected all suggestions of the kind, as if priestly celibacy were on of his articles of church discipline.”
Context Definition: purity; virginity; sexual abstinence
Etymology: from Latin cælibatus "state of being unmarried," from cælebs "unmarried"
English Definition: abstinence from sexual intercourse, especially by reason of religious vows
Sentence: One of the main principles that many priests follow is that of celibacy.
4. venerable
Page: 124
Context: “The new abode of the two friends was with a pious widow, of good social rank, who dwelt in a house covering pretty nearly the site on which the venerable structure of King’s Chapel has since been built.”
Context Definition: honorable
Etymology: Venerable (late Middle English.) is from Latin venerabilis, from venerari; used of ecclesiastics or of those who had obtained the first degree of canonization
Veneration: from Latin venerationem (nom. veneratio) "reverence," from venerari "to worship, revere," related to venus (gen. veneris) "love, desire"
English Definition: commanding respect by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position
Sentence: The venerable statue was encased in the most secured display at the Met.
5. importunate
Page: 130
Context: “’They mostly do,’ said the clergyman, griping hand at his breast, as if afflicted with an importunate throb of pain.”
Context Definition: sudden
Etymology: from Latin importunus "unfit, troublesome," originally "having no harbor" (i.e. "difficult to access")
English Definition: troublesomely urgent or persistent in requesting; pressingly entreating
Sentence: The importunate child pleaded for just one more sip of soda.
6. celestial
Page: 141
Context: “It was his custom, too, as it has been that of many other pious Puritans, to fast—not, however, like them, in order to purify the body and render it the fitter medium of celestial illumination…”
Context Definition: heavenly
Etymology: from Latin cælestis "heavenly," from cælum "heaven, sky"
English Definition: of, or relating to, the sky or the heavens
Sentence: As the white dove flew overhead, it reminded us of a celestial presence.
Other Key Terms:
deacon: p.118 cleric ranking just below a priest in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches
perchance: p.126 perhaps
vile: p.141 loathesome
subtile: p.118 also known as subtle
chirurgical: p.118 also known as surgical
boon: p.118 benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request
somniferous: p.135 soporific; inducing sleep
parochial: p.119 of, relating to, supported by, or located in a parish
sagacity: p.123 wisdom
tumult: p.123 disorderly commotion or disturbance
ebb: p.123 period of decline or diminution