Gorgon in Greek mythology, any of three sisters with snakes for hair, so horrible that the beholder is turned to stone.
grand tour a tour of continental Europe, formerly taken by young men of the British aristocracy to complete their education.
hackneyed made trite by overuse.
heiroglyphic a picture or symbol representing a word, syllable, or sound; hard to interpret or understand.
histrionic overacted or overacting; theatrical; artificial; affected.
Ida Lewis Idawalley Zorada Lewis [1842–1911]. The best known lighthouse keeper of her day, she tended the Lime Rock beacon on a tiny island a mile from Newport. Credited with saving 18 lives, she became famous for her unconventional life. It is not surprising that Wharton twice mentions Ida Lewis as Newland views the nontraditional Ellen from afar.
Ilium the Latin name for Troy, an ancient Phrygian city in northwest Asia Minor.
importunate troublesome; annoyingly persistent.
imprevu [Fr.]unforeseen.
in extremis (Lat.) at the point of death.
inanition emptiness; exhaustion; lack of strength or spirit.
inscrutably not easily understood; completely obscure or mysterious.
