The Tell Tale Heart Vocab

Front

Hearing is acute. What does "acute" mean?

Back

sharp

Front

Meaning of 'dissimulation' in context: "You should have seen how wisely I proceeded..."

Back

disguising one's intentions

Front

"You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what caution- with what foresight- with what dissimulation- I went to work!" What does 'foresight' mean?

Back

Knowing ahead of time

Front

Meaning of "vexed" in the sentence: "...it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye."

Back

annoyed, or bothered

Front

Meaning of 'sagacity' in the sentence: "Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers—of my sagacity."

Back

intelligence and good judgment

Front

"But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless." What does "refrained" mean?

Back

held back

Front

Meaning of 'triumph' in: "I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph."

Back

A successful ending

Front

Meaning of "groan" in context: "Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror."

Back

expression of pain

Front

Meaning of "stifled" in the context: "... it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe."

Back

held in

Front

Meaning of 'conceived' in the sentence: 'It haunted me day and night.'

Back

having an idea