1. The Scarlet Letter Vocabulary
Chapters 1-4
(SAT Words)

2. decorous: proper
propriety: correct conduct
melancholy: sadness, depression
languid: slow, sluggish, weak
edifice: a very large building
inclement: stormy
voluminous: huge/full
ascended: to move upward
laudable: praiseworthy
tempestuous: stormy

3. arduous: difficult, demanding
obtuseness: dull or stupid
furrowed: to make grooves/wrinkles
sagacious: wise
alacrity: quick and cheerful response
eulogium: praise or tribute (esp. after death)
fervent: passionate, with great emotion
torpid: sluggish, inactive
witticism: a clever remark.
jollity: merriment, state of being jolly/happy

4. Vocabulary Strategy
Come up with mental pictures or weird, nonsense sentences to help you remember the definitions of words.
It doesn’t matter if it makes sense to everyone, only you!

5. decorous
Dolores was very decorous.

6. melancholy
The melon was melancholy.
The collie was melancholy.

7. edifice
Ed painted the massive edifice.

8. ascended She ascended the stairway to heaven.
(Led Zeppelin in your head…?)

9. tempestuous
The tempest made the sea tempestuous.

10. witticism
William’s wacky witticism made Wilma wet her pants!