Pygmalion

by George Bernard Shaw

Vocabulary

Act I

Act I

•Gumption (n.) – spirit, spunk

•Amiable (adj.) – friendly, agreeable

•Repudiate (v.) – to reject

•Mendacity (n.) – untruthfulness

•Prodigal (adj.) – wasteful, extravagant

Act I

• Miscellaneous (adj.) – varied, assorted, mixed

• Dialect (n.) – a language that is native to a particular region or social group

• Deprecation (n.) – disapproval

• Unintelligible (adj.) – impossible to understand

• Plight (n.) – an unfortunate situation

Act II

• Impetuous (adj.) – done quickly and without thought or care

• Malice (n.) – the intention or desire to do evil

• Robust (adj.) – (of a person, animal, or plant) strong and healthy

• Coax (v.) – to persuade (someone) to do something

Act II

• Genteel (adj.) – of or relating to the upper class

• Resolute (adj.) – admirably purposeful or determined

• Frowzy (adj.) – scruffy and neglected in appearance

• Abject (adj.) – extremely bad or unpleasant

Act II

• Tyrannical (adj.) – exercising power in a cruel way

• Rhetoric (n.) – the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing

• Morality (n.) – principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior

Act II

Act III

• Divan (n.) – a long, low sofa without a back or arms

• Bravado (n.) – a bold manner intended to impress

• Pedantic (adj.) – formal, precise

• Imprecation (n.) – a curse word

Act III

• Compulsory (adj.) – required by law or a rule, obligatory

• Aggrieved (adj.) – feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated

• Maestro (n.) – a great or distinguished figure in any sphere

Act III

• Debutante (n.) – an upper-class young woman making her first appearance in fashionable society

• Lamentable (adj.) – unfortunate, regrettable

• Incorrigible (adj.) – not able to be corrected, improved or reformed

Act III

Act IV

• Pallor (n.) – an unhealthy pale appearance

• Superlative (adj.) – of the highest quality or degree

• Indifferent (adj.) – having no particular interest or sympathy, unconcerned

• Presumptuous (adj.) – failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate

Act IV

• Brute (n.) – a cruel, unpleasant, or insensitive person

• Writhe (v.) – to squirm or make continual twisting movements

• Condescend (v.) – to show feelings of superiority, to look down upon

Act IV

• Togs (n.) – clothes

• Decorum (n.) – etiquette, good behavior

• Folly (n.) – a foolish act, idea or practice

Act IV

Act V

• Vexed (adj.) – frustrated or worried

• Vehement (adj.) – showing strong feeling

• Resplendent (adj.) – attractive and impressive in appearance

• Deference (n.) – humble submission and respect

Act V

• Provocation (n.) – an action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately

• Deft (adj.) – neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements

• Magnanimous (adj.) – very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself

Act V

• Earnest (adj.) – resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction

• Humility (n.) – a modest or low view of one’s own importance

• Consort (n.) – a wife, husband, or companion

Act V