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