acrid
sharp to the sense of smell or taste, heavy or pungent
beatitude
a state of blessedness, calm, or sanctified privilege
dejection
a feeling of sorrow or loss; depression or lamentation
effusive
expressing readily, spontaneously, and openly; communicative in an overwhelming way
franc
the basic unit of money or currency in 19th-century France
grotesque
exaggerated in a disturbing or unpleasant way, often having to do with physical appearance; gruesome; caricatured
haberdasher
a merchant or shopkeeper who sells small items related to clothing, such as ribbons, buttons, and sewing materials
Jardin des Plantes
literally "the garden of plants": a botanical garden in Paris notable for its variety of trees and flowers, as well as its zoo
languor
tiredness or laziness
Latin Quarter
an area in central Paris situated on the Seine River; also famous as the site of one of the city's major educational institutions, the Sorbonne University
lethargy
laziness, exhaustion, or weariness
lucrative
profitable or financially advantageous
manifesto
a document or declaration setting forth the essential beliefs, aims, and course of action of a group or organization
morgue
a facility where dead bodies are housed for identification purposes, and occasionally displayed; in Paris, a structure built in 1864 on one of the Seine's islands
pallid
pale, often in a way that indicates sickness or infirmity
repugnant
repulsive or disgusting
reverie
a daydream or whimsical recollection
Rue
"street"
sanguine
healthy and hopeful; also used repeatedly to describe Laurent's temperament
Seine
the major river that flows through the center of Paris, and extends well beyond the city for a full length of almost 500 miles
temperament
personality or character type; in Zola's usage, a theory of psychological and physical traits that enjoyed some popularity in the 19th century
