Vocabulary in Walden

A simoom is a hot, dry, dust-laden wind blowing in the desert, especially in the Sahara and other parts of the Middle East. Thoreau uses the word here to to describe his desire to escape something that is not wanted.

This expression is based on other common ones that associate idleness with mischievous or harmful behavior. Such expressions are rooted in biblical verses that emphasize the importance of hard work and describe idleness as a gateway to sinful behavior.

An archaic word currently, "trumpery" refers to articles, objects, or even beliefs that are attractive but have little to no value or use. The adjective form describes things that are showy but worthless. Thoreau uses such a word to describe how he feels about the accumulated objects that people acquire throughout their lives, and how reducing such objects would allow them to better live the good life.

Spelled "exuviae" in modern dictionaries, this word refers to the discarded skins or shells of animals. Thoreau is equating the accumulation of furniture and possessions with the growth of excess physical material on our bodies; it weighs us down.

This word is far less common than it used to be, likely because it's synonym "lazy" has become more prevalent. "Shiftlessness" marks someone who lacks ambition, energy, incentive, or resourcefulness. Thoreau makes a point here to state what is needed and that everything is not only intentional, but well thought out.

This expression means that something (typically bread) is the most important, staple food in one's diet. One might remember the meaning of this phrase by considering how a walking staff is used to support someone, much how bread is a basic source of nutrition for many cultures around the world.

Thoreau is again anticipating an objection that he is abstemious, or someone who doesn't eat or drink very much. He challenges this point by suggesting that he could eat his fill of someone's larder if given the chance.

"Inveterate" describes someone who has a particular habit or custom while a "caviler" is someone who makes petty or unnecessary objections. Thoreau is in essence saying that there will always be those who raise objections simply for the sake of doing so, and he once again tries to anticipate these objections by acknowledging and then answering them.

Now spelled "Tatars," these are a Turkic people who live in Asia and Europe. They were one of the five major tribal confederations in the Mongolian plateau in the 12th century CE. Notice here how Thoreau appears to invoke knowledge from non-European culture almost as a justification for his actions.

Arcadia is a peaceful, pastoral region in a mountainous district of southern Greece. In Greek mythology it is the home of Pan and poetically it often represents a kind of bucolic paradise.

A "garret" is a very small room in a building that came to be associated with artistic types in the 19th century (being the only place affordable for them to live). Thoreau says that this Englishman would have been better off to have gone upstairs to his living space and begun life as a poet rather than trying to amass a fortune first.

A "mote" is a tiny piece of substance or material. Thoreau is likely making an allusion to the biblical book of Matthew 7:5, which talks about the hypocrisy of people pointing out faults in others without looking at their own actions.

Thoreau states that separating hypocrisy and cant from his speech is difficult and makes a quick metaphorical comparison to chaff and wheat. Chaff specifically refers to the husks of corn or other seeds that are separating during harvest, but the word can be used to generally refer to anything that is considered undesirable.

The noun "cant" refers to a type of talk or speech that is sanctimonious, hypocritical, and typically related to morals, religion, or politics. Thoreau is saying that he is trying to make his claims without coming across as hypocritical and derogatory towards his audience.

While using "copper" in this way has largely fallen out of the current English vernacular, in Thoreau's time the word "copper" referred to the coin that had the lowest value, such as a penny.

The phrase belles lettres literally translates from the French as "beautiful" or "fine" writing. This particular type of writing can potentially include any kind of literary work with the stipulation that the work is valued for its aesthetic qualities, style, and tone.

"Dilettantism" refers to those who cultivate a certain level of proficiency in an area, like the arts, without any real attachment or professional interest. Thoreau says that while such an architects desire may be revelatory or useful, it still doesn't amount to much beyond amateur interest.

Thoreau is trying to illustrate the connection between houses and their purpose; they all have the same function despite their shapes and have been built for the same reasons throughout time. Therefore, his little cellar and home will be just as suitable and purposeful as any "splendid house in the city."

While "aguish" (the adjective form of the noun "ague") typically refers to a fit of shivering brought on by a fever (like malaria), in this context Thoreau uses it to mean a "chilly" or simply "cold" floor.

This phrase may sound poetic, and in fact, it is. Thoreau is playing with William Shakespeare's original line from his play Richard III, in which King Richard expresses his feelings of discontent in a soliloquy, beginning with "Now is the winter of our discontent..." By stating that the winter was thawing, Thoreau paints a vivid image of how pleasant life at Walden Pond was for him in the beginning as he set about his experiment.

In this case, the Fatherland likely refers to the Netherlands because of the Dutch colonists. The term, along with Motherland, are used to represent the home country or region of a particular people.

The word "publican" comes from Roman history and refers to those who collected public taxes. Generally, the word can be used to refer to any collector of customs, tolls, or tribute.

A "sty" or "sties" technically refer to a pigpen. However, these words can be used to generally describe living conditions as filthy and degraded.

Thoreau's rendition of the word "suant" is either an archaic or regional spelling. As an adverb, suantly refers to things that are working or proceeding evenly, smoothly, and easily.

The context of this sentence, particularly the verb "turns," likely provided clues that this word is an older spelling of "somersault," the movement where someone turns head over heels in the air or on the ground and finishes by landing on their feet.

Typically the verb "to hire" (particularly in American English) refers to paying someone services to fulfill an established contract. However, Thoreau is using the verb here more like "to lease" or "to rent" to indicate that people have to pay in order to use living facilities.

While this word has many connotations, the original meaning of "Yankee" meant someone from the New England region in North America. Over time is became slang for any member of the Union army during the American Civil War, and now it can be used (derogatorily) to refer to any American.

According to the origin stories of the Abrahamic religions, Adam and Eve were the first humans on the planet. Prior to eating from the tree of knowledge, they lived without clothing nor shame for their nakedness. A "bower refers to a pleasant, quiet, and shady spot underneath a tree. So, by "wore the bower" Thoreau means that they only had the shade from trees to cover themselves up.

Harlequin is one of the best-known of the comic-servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'arte. The Harlequin is characterized by his checkered costume and played the role of comic relief as well as a nimble, clever servant. Thoreau chooses Harlequin to state that even his outlandish and recognizable outfit should serve him both in sickness and health.

Fate or destiny are often personified in stories and mythology throughout history and culture. Thoreau's casual comparison of the way the tailoress said "They" to the impersonal yet authoritative Fates adds emphasis to the finality of her statement.

A "sinecure" means a job that requires very little or no work while paying fairly well and providing status. In other words, someone who has a sinecure has a very easy job that pays well. Thoreau brings this up because he considers many of his odd jobs around town to have been valuable, but the town did not value his work at all.

"Fetters" are the parts of a chain or manacle that clamp around the wrists or ankles in order to restrain someone, a prisoner for instance. Thoreau calls them "golden or silver" to show how such wealth actually prohibits people from living instead of providing them opportunities.

In general, the word "dross" can refer to any kind of trash, garbage, or refuse and be used to equate something with worthlessness. Thoreau uses it here to compare all of the extraneous material possessions that people accumulate to rubbish.

The word "Elysian" is synonymous with heavenly or paradisal. It is derived from the Greek word Elysium, the location of the blessed dead in Greek mythology. Thoreau uses "Elysian" as an intensifier to add strength to how much summer can contribute to human well-being.

This term is now historical and unused. At the time, it referred to a native Australian, or Aborigine. Thoreau is using it to generally refer to other cultures in order to provide a contrast to Europeans.

By "brute" Thoreau does not mean "cruel," "unpleasant," or "violent"; rather, he is using it to generally refer to beasts or animals. "The brute creation" then, refers to all creatures except humans because they have no need for anything beyond food and shelter.

Adam is the name of the first man according to the Abrahamic religions, and the expression "as old as Adam" is used to indicate that something is beyond ancient or as old as humans have existed. Thoreau uses this expression here to note that the tedious things that prevent humans from enjoying life have existed forever.

Thoreau employs the full use of the word "slough" in this passage. First, "slough" means a kind of swamp that suggests those in debt are stuck in a mire that is difficult to get out of. Second, "slough" also means a slowing of progress or activity which implies that those in debt must work harder and harder to make gains in their work. The overall impression is one of desperation, with the odds against the worker.

The adjective "factitious," despite having "fact" as part of the word, means something that is artificial, fake, or bogus. Similarly, the adverb "superfluously" describes certain things as unnecessary. Thoreau uses words like these throughout to impress on the reader just how problematic he considers the plight of humankind.

By "old book," Thoreau means the Christian Bible. The line that follows is a paraphrase from the biblical passage from Matthew 6: 19. The next line from that same passage (Matthew 6: 20) says to put one's treasures in heaven where they cannot succumb to moth, rust, and thievery. Thoreau is likely quoting scripture in addition to his Greek metaphors to appeal to the intellectual and the faithful in order to make them see that people are struggling with the lives they have been given.

For his fifth labor, Hercules has to clean the stables of Augeas, said to house the most cattle in the country and to have never been cleaned. Thoreau continues to use the Herculean metaphor to stress the poor and troubled situations that such people have been born into and struggled with their whole lives.

The nephew of Hercules in Greek mythology, Iolaus is best known for aiding Hercules in his twelve labors, particularly the fight against the Hydra. Thoreau includes him here to build on his extended metaphor about how many people lack anyone to help them through their trials and tribulations.