Glossary of Terms
admiral: the commanding officer of a fleet of ships
allez: go (French)
basta: enough (Italian)
billiards: a game that is played on a rectangular-shaped table covered in cloth, where a long stick (a cue) hits small, hard balls
conducive: tending or leading to
dachas: a Russian country villa
economize: to reduce expenses
emancipation: releasing someone from a state of bondage or servitude
financier: a person skilled in complex financial operations
frivolous: silly or trivial
galoshes: heavy, waterproof shoes made of rubber
gherkins: small, prickly cucumbers used for pickling
harness: to control and direct; to attach
heron: a wading bird with a long neck, long legs, a long bill, and a hoarse cry
herring: small, silvery fish (when canned: a sardine)
horsy: horse-like; large, clumsy
illusory: deceptive; unreal
incorrigible: cannot be reformed or improved
intelligentsia: people regarding themselves as the educated or intellectual elite
intelligible: clear, understandable
jackal: a cheat; an accomplice in committing dishonest acts
kopeck: 100 kopecks equal 1 ruble (Russian currency)
kvass: a Russian drink distilled from barley or rye
livery: a uniform worn by male servants
lout: a clumsy and stupid person
mandolin: a small, round stringed instrument belonging to the lute family
mitigating: to make less intense or severe
mortgage: a pledge of property to secure a debt to a creditor
muzhik: a male Russian peasant
Nietzsche: Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher
nursery: a room set apart for children's use
palpable: tangible; easily perceived
patchouli: a small mint-like shrub used in perfumes
pensively: thinking deeply, usually with a touch of sadness
perpetual: continual; enduring
physiologically: relating to the vital parts and functions of living organisms
premonition: a foreboding
prescribe: to impose rules or advice
promissory note: a promise made in writing to pay a sum of money at a specific time to a specific recipient
ruble or rouble: Russian currency
samovar: a metal urn used to boil tea in Russia
serf: a slave bound to the master's land
starlings: dark, iridescent birds
summons: an order to appear or perform a particular action
vagrant: a wanderer; a nomad
versts: a former Russian unit of length (0.663 mile)
virtuous: chaste; righteous or exhibiting moral excellence
vulgarity: the state of being offensively crude or unrefined
ClassicNote on The Cherry Orchard
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