Charles dickens and oliver twist

Glossary
ablutions
ritual cleansing as part of a religious ceremony
acerbity
bitterness, sharpness in tone or manner
asperities
roughness, severities
asseveration
earnest or solemn statement
assiduity
great care and attention in doing something
assiduously
very carefully
auguries
omens
beadle
a minor parish official employed by the Church of England to usher and keep order
bier
wooden frame on which a coffin is carried on its way to be buried
cant
jargon, specifically of a lower class
capacious
able to hold a large quantity
chancery suits
lawsuits
choleric
bad-tempered, irritable
cogitating
thinking deeply and carefully about something
conclave
a private and secret gathering of a select group of people
coterie
a small, exclusive group of people who share the same interests
demolition
the destruction or annihilation of somebody or something
dispensary
a place where, usually medicine, here justice, is distributed
dissipated
overindulging in the pursuit of physical pleasure
ebullition
outburst
Elysium
heaven, paradise
encomiums
expressions of high praise
engendered
caused to come into existence
espial
the act of spying
expatiate
speak at length
extant
still in existence
facetious
intended to be funny but often silly or inappropriate
gibbet
gallows
grazier
person who grazes cattle
Harridans
older and assertive women; an offensive term
hostler
somebody employed to take care of horses at an inn