Adam Bede Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

'cuteness

acuteness; intelligence

ale

a heavy beer

artisan

skilled laborer who makes unique pieces

bailiff

an overseer of an estate; a steward

bilious

resembling bile in color (green); looking sickly, as if one suffers from an excess in bile

bucolic

idyllic

buxom

large-breasted

carte blanche

the freedom to do whatever one pleases

chap

man

churning

the activity by which one makes butter

cloister

a quiet, secluded place; part of a nunnery or monastery

coquettish

flirtatious

crinoline

a stiff cotton fabric used to make the bodices of dresses

currants

raisins

deferential

showing respect

dock-leaves

leaves usually used for wrapping newly-made cheese

gander

male goose

gell

dialect for "girl"

gentry

noblemen; aristocrats

gimcrack

doo-dad

greenfinch

a common bird with green and yellow plumage

kettle-cake

a loaf of bread baked at the bottom of a kettle

kin

family

lad

young man

languor

laziness or listlessness

lass

young woman

making love

making love-related speeches (not having sex)

mensuration

the art of measuring

Methody

slang for Methodist

oat-cake

the rough food that the poor British ate in the place of bread

porridge

oatmeal, usually eaten for breakfast

portly

slightly fat; stout

pudding

British word for a sausage-like food made with boiled minced meat

smelling-salts

chemicals thrust under the nose to revive a lady when she is feeling faint

stoat

an ermine (short-tailed weasel) with its brown summer coat, before it turns white for winter

tarpaulin

material used to cover and protect things from wetness