The Good Woman of Setzuan Glossary

Glossary of Terms

conundrum

a situation that is puzzling.

conviviality

friendliness, agreeableness.

crane

a large, wading bird.

ear trumpet

an old-fashioned device held to the ear as a hearing aid, shaped like a trumpet.

ebb

to decline or decay.

foreman

a person in charge of a group of workers.

hovel

a dirty, small hut.

illustrious

distinguished and glorious.

irate

enraged, angry.

leering

looking suggestively or lasciviously.

millstone

figuratively, an emotional burden.

ministration

an instance of ministering care or aid.

parasite

a person who takes advantage of another person without returning payment.

perjury

the giving of false testimony under oath.

philanthropist

a person who does charitable or benevolent things to help others.

spoilsport

a person whose selfish actions spoil the atmosphere of a social gathering.

tempo

the relative pace of music.

usury

the lending of money at an exorbitant rate of interest.

veneration

a feeling of awe and respect.

zither

a stringed musical instrument, played on a horizontal surface by plucking with the fingers.