archaic, unknown, and pretty meanings particular to the text

† archaic   → origin   ♡ adored

• hind —a female deer, esp. a red deer or sika in and after its third year ♡
  • indo-european/greek → “hornless,” “young deer”
• vetch —a scrambling herbaceous plant of the pea family 
• polecat —zorilla of the weasel family; hunts by night for birds and rodents, with a mask across the eyes; (from old french pole/poule → chicken/poultry)
• bed jacket —a cape-like, waist-length robe worn over nightgown to conceal arms, chest and shoulders as a woman sat up in bed
• haulm —stalk or stem esp. of peas or potatoes
• shift —a woman's straight, loose fitting undergarment dress
• bladdernut —shrub or small tree that bears little white flowers; found in poland and highly coveted for its magical power; the fruit of comes in inflated, bladder-like
• unguent —a holy anointing oil
• homily —sermon (from greek homilos → crowd)
• plaints —a lamentation (of latin planctus “beating of the breast”)
• orlík —of polish and czech meaning “young or small eagle”
• organ grinder —a street musician who plays a barrel organ
• vino nero —a black wine believed to be the elixir of life by weasel
• phial —glass vessel or bottle for liquids (vial) ♡
• contrition —state of feeling remorseful and penitent; (in church) repentance of past sins during or after confession
• arcade —a covered passageway with arches along one or both sides
• breviary —book containing the service for each day, to be recited by those in orders in the roman catholic church
• chandler —dealer or trader in supplies or provisions
• matinal —something related to the hours between midnight and dawn; morning prayers; (from french matin → “morning”) ♡ †
• bellflower —plant with delicate, bell-shaped blossoms of white, violet or blue; (of genus campanula, latin for campana → “bell”) genus campanula
• shade —a specter or ghost; disembodied spirit ♡
• poltroon —an utter coward
• carrion —a contemptible or worthless person; the dead and putrefying body or flesh of an animal so corrupted to be unfit for food
• temerity —fearless daring