Dante born Durante Alighieri (1265–1321), Italian poet famous for The Divine Comedy where he describes the stages of hell.
debauchery extreme indulgence of one's appetites, especially for sensual pleasure.
deshabille the state of being only partially dressed.
dray a low, sturdily built cart with detachable sides, for carrying heavy loads.
drover a person who herds droves of animals, especially to market.
dyspepsia indigestion.
eloquent vividly expressive.
Faust the hero of several medieval legends and later literary and operatic works, a philosopher who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power; here, and in several places throughout The Jungle, Sinclair inserts literary allusions that are not compatible with the educational level of the character, a stylistic shortcoming.
felicitous used or expressed in a way suitable to the occasion; appropriate.
fetid having a bad smell, as of decay.
firebrand a person who stirs up others to revolt or strife.
freebooter a plunderer.
furies in Greek and Roman mythology, the three terrible female spirits with snaky hair who punish the doers of unavenged crimes.
