The Castle: Chapters 1–5

by Franz Kafka
In Franz Kafka's final, unfinished novel, a land surveyor named K. arrives in a village for work, but quickly becomes ensnared in the messy relationship between the villagers and the bureaucracy of the nearby castle.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–10, Chapters 11–15, Chapters 16–20, Chapters 21–25
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. duly
    in an appropriate or proper manner
    K.’s response on being awakened, questioned, and duly threatened with expulsion from the Count’s domain had been most ungracious but perhaps not unjustifiably so, as had finally become evident, for he claimed to be a land surveyor summoned by the Count.
  2. expulsion
    the act of forcing out someone or something
    K.’s response on being awakened, questioned, and duly threatened with expulsion from the Count’s domain had been most ungracious but perhaps not unjustifiably so, as had finally become evident, for he claimed to be a land surveyor summoned by the Count.
  3. conciliatory
    intended to placate
    K. didn’t say anything conciliatory to him; it was good if they learned to respect him, but no sooner was he seated beside Barnabas than he felt a peasant’s breath down the back of his neck.
  4. pretext
    a fictitious reason that conceals the real reason
    Calmer now, K. turned to Barnabas; he would have liked to remove the assistants but couldn’t find a pretext.
  5. rebuff
    force or drive back
    At a spot where he had been often rebuffed, with a small flag clenched between his teeth, he climbed the wall on the first attempt.
  6. imperturbable
    marked by extreme calm and composure
    Only Amalia shook his confidence slightly in that respect with her grave, fixed, imperturbable, and perhaps rather dull gaze.
  7. balustrade
    a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony
    There was a balustrade on the front steps and a handsome lantern attached over the door.
  8. effusive
    extravagantly demonstrative
    The greetings that followed were incomprehensibly effusive, with kisses and long embraces.
  9. deign
    do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
    Mr. Klamm is a gentleman from the Castle, and that signifies in and of itself, even leaving aside Klamm’s other position, a very high rank, but what are you? You, the very person whom we are so humbly imploring that he might deign to consider marriage.
  10. categorical
    not modified or restricted by reservations
    A long time ago...a decree came—I cannot recall from which department—stating in the categorical manner so typical of the gentlemen up there that a surveyor would be summoned and instructing the local council to be ready with all the plans and records needed for his work.
  11. zealously
    in an enthusiastic, eager, or ardent manner
    Should it ever lose its way, the excellence of the organization is such that the file must zealously seek the wrong way, for otherwise it won’t find it, and then it does indeed take a long time.
  12. precept
    a rule of personal conduct
    Unfortunately by nature I cannot follow that precept myself.
  13. meticulous
    marked by extreme care in treatment of details
    That too was years ago, but the matter still hasn’t died down, partly through the conscientiousness of Sordini, who tried to probe the motives of both majority and opposition by means of the most meticulous inquiries.
  14. venerable
    profoundly honored
    “Klamm’s letter,” said the chairman, “well, it is valuable and even venerable because of Klamm’s signature, which appears to be genuine.”
  15. insoluble
    without hope of solution
    “Well, then,” said K., “the only possible conclusion is that everything is very unclear and insoluble except for my being thrown out.”
Created on Fri Mar 06 03:34:23 EST 2026 (updated Sat Mar 07 11:00:58 EST 2026)

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