The Tell-tale heart

1. The Tell-tale heart Vocabulary

2. Derision (n): when you show that you think someone or something is stupid or silly • His classmates showered him in derision for asking such a silly question. • He reacted with derision at her proposal. • Derisive (adj)

3. Audacity (n): the quality of having enough courage to take risks or say impolite things • I cannot believe she had the audacity to ask for money after treating me with such derision for saving money carefully. • Audacious (adj)

4. Gesticulation (n): making movements with your arms and hands, usually while speaking, because you are excited, angry, or cannot think of the right words to use • He made wild gesticulations as he tried to make me understand what he wanted. • Gesticulate (v)

5. vehement (adj): showing very strong feelings or opinions • His vehement denial of the charges convinced the police that he was innocent. • He gesticulated vehemently while he spoke. • Vehemence (n)

6. Acute (adj): very serious or severe; showing an ability to clearly understand things; showing an ability to notice small differences in sound, taste, etc. • Above all was the sense of hearing acute. • She understands the situation very acutely.

7. Crevice (n): a narrow crack in the surface of something, especially in rock • Mice can get into your house through very small crevices in the walls. • Even the tiniest crevice may be enough to let water flow freely.

8. Sagacity (n): good judgment and understanding; wisdom • The scholar spoke with such cogent sagacity that I believed every word he said. • Even the most sagacious person will sometimes do or say the wrong thing. • Sagacious (adj)

9. Profound (adj): having a strong influence or effect; showing strong, serious feelings; showing great knowledge or understanding • His teacher had a profound effect on how he reads literature to this day. • Their love was real and profound. • The world needs more profound thinkers.

10. Sufficient (adj): as much as is needed for a particular purpose. • Make sure you have sufficient money so you can eat while you travel. • Aphorism: “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” meaning you only need to worry about today, and let tomorrow take care of itself. From the Bible.

11. Dissimulation (n): hiding of your true feelings, especially by lying. • Her nervous habit of wringing her hands when she lies exposed her dissimulation to me. • Try not to dissimulate when you know you are in trouble; it is always better to tell the truth. • Dissimulate (v)

12. Hearken or Hark (v): used to tell someone to listen or pay attention. • Hark! Reading literature is difficult when the text is old! • Hearken to me now while I explain this old word to you.

13. Innovative (adj): using clever new ideas or methods • We have an innovative young teacher on our faculty now. • Innovation (n) • Innovate (v)

14. Legitimate (adj): fair or reasonable; allowed by law, legal • You are asking a legitimate question, but I need a few moments to research the right answer. • Legitimacy (n) • Legitimate (v) • Legitimize (v)

15. Macabre (adj) very strange and unpleasant and connected with death or with people being seriously hurt • He has a very macabre sense of humor. I don’t always feel comfortable with him.

16. Practitioner (n): someone who works as a doctor or lawyer; one who regularly does a particular activity • He is a regular practitioner of yoga and tai chi as ways to relieve stress.

17. Dissever (v): an old way of saying sever; to separate, cut apart.

18. Sepulcher (n): a small room or building in which the bodies of dead people were put • The body of Annabel Lee was laid to rest in the sepulcher by the sea.