Walden
Study Guide
Essay 1: Economy (Pgs. 1-13)
Vocabulary
1. Ascertained – learned from certain
2. Audited – performed an examination of financial accounts
3. Benefactors – helpers; people who offer aid of some sort
4. Compelled – driven to
5. Conformity – compliance; the state of being the same as all others
6. Contemplating – considering; thinking about
7. Curry – win
8. Degenerate – deteriorate
9. Discontented – not satisfied; uneasy
10.Divinity – godliness
11.Divulge – reveal
12.Draught – draft
13.Dross – waste, garbage, trash
14.Egotism – arrogance
15.Endeavored – tried, attempted
16.Exertions – actions undertaken under great stress
17.Exogenous – caused by factors outside the organism
18.Exorbitant – exceeding what is usual; outrageous
19.Factitious – rebellious
20.Fain – gladly
21.Frivolous – trivial
22.Gratuitously – in a manner that is not needed

23.Hindrances – things that prevent or undermine actions
24.Idly – without action; lazily
25.Impertinent – rude
26.Implements – tools
27.Impoverishing – making poor
28.Impunity – freedom from punishment, harm, or loss
29.Inconsolably – in the manner of one who is incapable of being soothed
30.Industrious – productive; driven to succeed
31.Insolvent – impoverished, bankrupt
32.Kindred – family
33.Lumbering – moving clumsily
34.Magnanimity – the act of being courageous or noble
35.Nigh – near
36.Obscurities – things that are vague and distant
37.Observatory – a place where nature may be viewed and studied
38.Obtrude – to push out
39.Palatable – appetizing
40.Penance – an act done to show sorrow over committing a sin
41.Perchance – perhaps; maybe
42.Praetors – ancient roman magistrates
43.Precedents – acts that justify later acts of the same kind
44.Profess – state openly
45.Progenitors – ancestors
46.Resignation – the act of giving oneself over, without resistance, to
hopelessness or despair
47.Reverencing – treating with honor or respect

48.Sinecure – paying job requiring no work
49.Slough – shed
50.Subdue – to bring under control
51.Superfluously – exceeding what is necessary
52.Superintend – to have charge over; to direct or to manage
53.Trifling – not important
54.Valiant – brave
55.Vigilant – alertly watchful
1. Why do you think Thoureau singles out individual groups of readers as
he begins his first essay?
2. What does Thoureau mean when he says that the “mass of men lead
lives of quiet desperation?” (Pg. 4) Is this still true today?
3. What does Thoureau’s story about the Indian basket weaver illustrate
about his views on capitalism? (Pgs. 11-12)