penury- extreme poverty; destitution
coffinesque- resembling a coffin
pong- a strong, unpleasant smell
cadged- ask for or obtain (something to which one is not strictly entitled)
gnossiennesque-
carapaces- something regarded as a protective or defensive covering
"Girls fascinate in different ways."
cor anglais- a musical instrument also called an English horn
"Implausible truth can serve one better than plausible fiction, and now was such a time."
decoking- remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing or taking off
frieze- a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling
amanuensis- a literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts
retroussé nose- nose turned up at the tip in an attractive way
louche- disreputable or sordid in a radish or appealing way
frisson- a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill
carillon- a set of bells in a tower, played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism similar to a piano roll
mordant- having or showing a sharp or critical quality (especially of humor); biting
six-birch-
bête noire- a person or thing that one particularly dislikes
arpeggios- the notes of a chord played in succession, either ascending or descending
execrable- extremely bad or unpleasant
brace- a pair of game birds
sundered- split apart
" Now and then goldfish splish and gleam like new pennies dropped in water."
demoiselle- a small graceful Old World crane with a black head and breast and white ear tufts; or a type of damselfly
"If people praise you, you're not walking your own path."
memsahibs- a married white or upper-class woman (often used as a respectful form of address by non white people)
deigned- condescending to give (something)
garble- reproduce in a confused and distorted way
apposite- apt in the circumstances or in relation to something
scuppered- sink deliberately; prevent from working or succeeding; thwart
erstwhile- former
abject- (of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree; completely without pride or dignity
in a trice- quickly
irascible- having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
cossets- care for and protect in an overindulgence way
evinced- reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); be evidence of; indicate
dodecaphonists- relating to, composing in or consisting of twelve-tone music
escutcheons- shield or emblems bearing coats of arms; a flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle or light switch
crenellations- the battlements of a castle or other building
runneling- trickling
comfortable little warren- a densely populated or labyrinthine building or district
enmity- the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
lucre- money, especially when regarded as sordid or distasteful or gained in a dishonorable way
flutterbying- a butterfly
flautism-
staves- vertical wood posts or planks
sangfroid- composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances
mewled- whimper, cry softly
escritoire- a small writing desk with drawers and compartments
juvenilia- works produced by an author or artist while still young
riposted- to make a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism
stickleback- small fish with sharp spines
eschew- deliberately avoid using
cuckolder- the husband of an adulterous wife
sherbety-
pastiches- artist works in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period
fatuous- silly and pointless
trunculent- eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant
glabrous- smooth, free from hair
burghers- a wealthy citizen
beetly-
pince-nez - a pair of eyeglasses with a nose clip instead of earpieces
sweet bird of solvency- ability to pay one's debt
sinecured- a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit
shagreen- a kind of unmanned leather with a rough granulated surface
beatific- blissfully happy
Bach motet- a short piece of sacred choral music
élan- energy, style, and enthusiasm
scarered-
dandified- showing excessive concern about one's clothes or appearance
jackdaw- small gray-headed crow
flummoxed- bewildered
(ducked into a) mew- a place for hiding
chroma- purity or intensity of color
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