Speak

Speak Glossary

abstinence

the act of refraining from indulging a desire (in this instance, sexual intercourse)

asphyxiated

deprived of air

Cubism

20th century artistic movement characterized by the abandonment of the single viewpoint and the use of geometric shapes and interlocking planes

Diprosomething

bathroom graffiti attempting to name the drug Depo-Provera, a birth control drug that has also been used on pedophiles to prevent sexual urges

germinate

to begin to sprout after a period of dormancy, in reference to a seed

Gracias a dios. Hasta luego.

Spanish, "Thank God. See you later."

harem pants

long, baggy pants that are tapered at the ankle

Jerry

Jerry Springer; host of the tabloid talk show, The Jerry Springer Show

La Salle

Catholic University in Philadelphia, PA

Maya Angelou

American author and poet who is best known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

a children's television series hosted by Fred Rogers, it was known for its gentle tone and simple explanations of issues, crafts, experiments, and music.

Oprah

Oprah Winfrey; host of the tabloid talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show

Pablo Picasso

Spanish artist known as a co-founder of the Cubist movement and as one of the most influential painters of the 20th century

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

a type of anxiety disorder that occurs after experiencing a traumatic event

Saint Martha of the Glue Gun

Martha Stewart; businesswoman, author, and television personality known for homemaking

Sally Jessy

Sally Jessy Raphael; host of the tabloid talk show, Sally

Sleazy

corrupt or immoral

Suffragette

member of the women's suffrage (right to vote) movement in the late 19th and early 20th century

Syracuse

a city in upstate New York or Syracuse University

The Scarlet Letter

a novel published by Nathanial Hawthorne in 1850, set in Puritan Boston from 1642 to 1649. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman exiled and branded with a scarlet "A" for conceiving a daughter out of wedlock.

Thespian

actor

Uberdude

word play on the German term, "ubermensch", meaning super man. The term is a part of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy.

Xenophobia

intense dislike and fear of foreign peoples