A Streetcar Named Desire Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

amiability

friendly, social

antiquity

from ancient times, a relic

attenuate

to weaken or reduce in force or intensity

bobby-soxer

an adolescent girl, especially in the 1940s

colloquy

a conversational exchange, dialog

coquettish

flirtatious

degenerate

One who has declined in morals and behavior from an acceptable level - in the context of Streetcar, a homosexual

effeminate

having traits generally considered feminine

Elysian Fields

In Greek mythology, the afterworld. Similar in concept to heaven.

gallantry

heroic, courtly attention to women

gossamer

something extremely light, flimsy, or delicate

heterogenous

consisting of dissimilar parts,

hoity toity

assuming airs, pretentious, haughty

hypocritical

pretending to have virtues, morals or principles that one does not actually possess

incongruous

out of place, inconsistent

kibitz

to look on and offer advice

neurasthenic

a person suffering from a psychological disorder characterized by chronic fatigue and weakness, loss of memory, and generalized aches and pains, formerly thought to result from exhaustion of the nervous system. No longer in scientific use.

pinion

to restrain or immobilize a person by holding their arms

portieres

heavy curtains hung across a doorway

Raffish

Gaudily vulgar, cheap, tawdry

redolence

Having a suggestive or reminiscent odor

reproach

blame, censure, disgrace

seven card stud

a variety of poker in which each player is dealt one card face down in each of the first two rounds, one card face up in each of the next four rounds, and one card face down in the last round, each of the last five rounds being followed by a betting interval.

sinuous

having many curves, bends, and turns

sotto voce

without the voice, whispered

swindle

to cheat out of money or other assets

transitory

fleeting, short-lived, non-permanent

vivacity

liveliness, animation, sprightliness