Murders in a Rue Morgue Vocabulary

acumen ­ noun a tapering point; shrewdness shown by keen insight allusion ­ noun passing reference or indirect mention aperture ­ noun an man­made opening; usually small; a device that controls amount of light admitted; a natural opening in something atrocity ­ noun an act of atrocious cruelty; the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane billet ­ noun lodging for military personnel (especially in a private home); a job in an organization; a short personal letter; verbprovide housing for (military personnel) burthen ­ noun a variant of `burden'; verb weight down with a load candor ­ noun the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech; ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty chafe ­ noun soreness and warmth caused by friction; anger produced by some annoying irritation; verb warm by rubbing, as with the hands; tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading;feel extreme irritation or anger; become or make sore by or as if by rubbing; cause friction; cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations chagrin ­ noun strong feelings of embarrassment; verb cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of charlatan ­ noun a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes coadjutor ­ noun an assistant to a bishop cognizant ­ adj. (sometimes followed by `of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception confectioner ­ noun someone who makes candies and other sweets conundrum ­ noun a difficult problem cosmogony ­ noun the branch of astrophysics that studies the origin and evolution and structure of the universe countenance ­ noun the appearance conveyed by a person's face;the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British); formal and explicit approval; verbconsent to, give permission cudgel ­ noun a club that is used as a weapon; verb strike with a cudgel diminutive ­ adj. very small; noun a word