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
ClassicNote on A Streetcar Named Desire
| 
