Wondrous Words Wednesday-April 25

Bermudaonion asks you to share new words that you have learned during your reading adventures in the last week. Feel free to join in the fun!

Lately I've been learning some new words as I've been reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne:

Prate:  to talk excessively and pointlessly; babble.

Here is how prate was used on page 1:
But, as thoughts are frozen and utterance benumbed, unless the speaker stand in some true relation with his audience, it may be pardonable to imagine that a friend, a kind and apprehensive, though not the closest friend, is listening to our talk; and then, a native reserve being thawed by this genial consciousness, we may prate of the circumstances that lie around us, and even of ourself but still keep the inmost Me behind its veil.

Emolument:   profit, salary, or fees from office or employment.

Here is how emolument was used on page 3:
The besom of reform hath swept him out of office, and a worthier successor wears his dignity and pockets his emoluments. 

Alacrity:  cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness

Here is how alacrity was used on page 6: 
Whenever such a mischance occurred--when a waggon-load of valuable merchandise had been smuggled ashore, at noonday, perhaps, and directly beneath their unsuspicious noses--nothing could exceed the vigilance and alacrity with which they proceeded to lock, and double-lock, and secure with tape and sealing-wax, all the avenues of the delinquent vessel. 

Gourmandism:  a person who is fond of good eating, often indiscriminatingly and to excess.

Here is how gourmandism was used on page 7:
His gourmandism was a highly agreeable trait; and to hear him talk of roast meat was as appetizing as a pickle or an oyster.

I'm telling you, I could go on and on with new words that I've come across while reading this book, but I think I've given you enough.  This should be enough to give you a taste of the writing.  It has been a tough book to read and I think a few of the ladies in my book group have given up on it.