Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

antipathetic

opposed, averse, or contrary

chronic

constant, habitual

composure

serene, self-controlled state of mind

conceive

to become pregnant

contrapuntal

two or more relatively independent melodies played together

deliquescence

the act of melting away or disappearing into nothing

detachment

aloofness, as from worldly affairs

disavow

to disown or repudiate

disclosure

a revelation or exposure

evanescent

vanishing, fading away

evasive

intentionally vague or ambiguous

facile

easily accomplished or attained

fatuous

inanely foolish and unintelligent

ferocity

a ferocious quality or state

grimace

a contorted facial expression

grotesque

odd or unnatural, fantastically ugly

lapse

break, gap

liturgical

of or relating to religious service and worship

malignant (cancer)

a tumor of uncontrolled growth, metastatic

mendacity

untruthfulness, falsehood

mirth

humor

notorious

widely and unfavorably known

obstruction

something that blocks or closes up with an obstacle

penetrate

to pierce or pass through

poontang

(offensive) a woman regarded as a sexual object

pretense

pretending or feigning, make-believe

pulverize

to reduce to dust

smoldering

to show signs of repressed anger, hatred, or lust

sodomy

copulation with a member of the same sex

spastic

characterized by spasms

terminal

fatal, mortal

trough

a long box used chiefly for feeding animals