Glossary
Alex Wharram
Acrimonious: Means to be horrible or angry. Burke references this in his work saying that even
if an enemy monarch were caught in the most acrimonious way, they would be treated fairly.
Alembic: a container with a beaked head. Burke is discussing atheism in this paragraph, saying
that if mankind is to, metaphorically, drink from the container of hell, nonsensically throwing
away the religion that has kept them unified and in order, then they risk only more discord.
Antiquarian: Pertaining to the study of antiquities.
Aptious: overly critical of trivial faults
Avarice: In this context it is used to mean a strong wish for wealth. In the sentence it means
that property rights are greater than the wish for wealth.
Contrivance: Something that has been forced or planned.
Coxcombs: Means to be a failure, or in the case of the sentence the problems with philosophy.
Curates: members of the clergy who help govern over the church and its properties, such as
schools and hospitals. The argument is made in the text that a large number of country
attorneys and curates can lead a country no better than a select few individuals who are
corrupt.
Ecclesiastical: Is pertaining to the Clergy, and has to do with the study at the Christian church.
Burke references this in his work, saying that if the ecclesiastical establishment needs to be
revised, than it is not wrongful to evaluate it.
Elucidation: To make something more clear, Burke uses this in the sentence to say if we do not
understand our religion we would not go to an atheist to clarify what our bible says.
Helvetius: Was a French philosopher who lived around the time of Burke and wrote
philosophical pieces meant to put out new ideas, was another enlightened philosopher that
Burke uses to illustrate his point.
House of Peers: The House of Peers is a ceremonial way of saying The British House of Lords.
Burke references this by saying that hereditary wealth is very similar to the hereditary nature of
the House of Peers.
Latent: present, but not visible, apparent, or actualized (Dictionary.com). In this case, Burke is
referring to causes in society that are often overlooked or ignored at first, but sometimes have
the potential to be of the greatest benefit to the state.
Loquacity: The state of being very talkative.
Mortmain: The perpetual holding of land, especially by a corporation or charitable trust
Obstinacy: The state of being very stubborn.
Pernicious: harmful, deadly, evil. Burke is warning here of the possibility of a more harmful
religion replacing Christianity if people are to abandon it and instead take up atheism.
Prerogatives: Means the right of privilege of certain individuals or classes. Burke references the
prerogatives of the people in the republic.
A Priori: without examination or experience. Edmund Burke warns that the “science of
constructing a commonwealth” is one such science that cannot be performed or taught without
previous knowledge on how to do so.
Rapacity: This term is used by Burke in the sentence too mean that the masses will take things
by force if they want to.
Sagacious: Means to have good judgement. Burke references this in his work saying that even if
one is very sagacious, he must be cautious when straying from an old established form of
government.
Sepulcher: a burial vault or a container for sacred relics, especially in an altar
Sophist: a person who uses superficially impressive, but flawed, reasoning
Sycophant: a person who flatters a powerful person for personal gain