Short Stories Vocab 1 Tools A B skeptic one who habitually questions matters generally accepted scoff to mock or jeer at foolhardy reckless; foolishly daring contempt feeling toward something or someone he considers worthless earnest serious and intense infectious likely to cause infection temperament ones natural disposition or nature speculation the act of thinking reflectively optimism the tendency to take the most hopeful view of matters consensus opinion held by most or all; general aggrement apparition anything that appears unexpectedly or stangely epidemic spreading rapidly among many people prominent noticeable; sticking out melancholy sadness and depression of spirits culvert drain under a road or embankment beseech to ask for earnestly ajar slightly open