The Yellow Wallpaper Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

ancestral

relating to or inherited from an ancestor or pre-existing group

arabesque

an elaborate spiraling line or motif

arbor

a latticework shelter intertwined with vines and leaves

atrocious

dreadful or revolting; extremely tasteless

bloated

swollen or puffed

breadth

width

bulbous

bulging roundness

canvas

a woven cloth of linen or cotton

chintz

a printed cotton fabric

companionship

fellowship between two individuals

congenial

pleasant or agreeable

conscientiously

meticulously or carefully

conspicuous

obvious or easily noticed

convolution

a shape made up of coiling and rolling curves

creep

to move slowly, close to the ground; often on hands and knees

cultivate

to encourage the growth or development of something

debase

to reduce in terms of value and significance

defiance

to challenge or strive to resist

delirium tremens

a phrase literally meaning "shaking delirium" or "trembling madness"

derision

mocking scorn or contempt

draught

the British form of the term "draft," meaning "a current of air"

enduring

lasting

fancy

a fantasy or illusion

felicity

happiness

flamboyant

marked by elaborate curves and decorations

florid

ornate or elaborate

flourish

an embellishment or additional ornament

fretful

restless or irritable

frieze

an ornamented band on furniture or architecture

fungus

a spore-producing organism that decomposes and absorbs the material surrounding it

galore

plentiful

gnarly

full of knots

gouge

to create a hole by chiseling or scooping

grotesque

bizarre or atypical

hedge

a dense row of low shrubs

hereditary

passed from parent to offspring

hovering

suspended over an object or area

hysterical

emotional excitability and mental disturbance; from the Greek word "hystera" meaning "uterus"

impertinence

being insolent or inappropriate

impressionable

easily affected

inanimate

not alive

infuriating

causing outrage or anger

inharmonious

conflicting or incompatible

interminable

endless

lease

rent

loll

to droop or hang

lurid

shining with an unnatural and ghastly glow

neglect

to disregard

nervous

easily excited; characterized by overly-sensitive nerves

neurasthenia

a psychological disorder characterized by nervous exhaustion

odor

smell

optic

visual

peculiarity

oddity

perplexing

confusingly complicated

perseverance

persistence or hard work in the face of obstacles

phosphate

a form of phosphoric acid used for medical treatments

piazza

porch

plantain

a plant from the genus Plantago, characterized by large, oval leaves

plunge

to throw oneself violently forward

provoke

to cause or stimulate purposefully

queer

odd

querulous

whining or complaining

radiate

to extend or spread from a central point

ravage

to damage seriously

recurrent

appearing again or periodically

renovate

to restore or revive

repellent

repulsive; arousing disgust

reproachful

disapproving

restrained

held back or reserved in emotions and behavior

riotous

enthusiastic and boisterous

Romanesque

relating to an architectural style popular in Europe between the 9th and 12the centuries; characterized by arches, columns, and ornamentation

scoff

to mock

skulk

to move sneakily

smooch

a smudge

smouldering

to exist in a state of suppressed activity

spite

hatred or malice

sprawling

spread out awkwardly

stimulus

something that causes action or emotion

stir

to move slightly

subdued

lacking in strength or intensity

sulphur

the British form of the term "sulfur," meaning "greenish-yellow"

temperament

the mental, physical, and emotional qualities that make up an individual

tint

a lighter shade of a color; hue

tonic

a medicine meant to strengthen and invigorate

trample

to stamp or step on heavily

untenanted

not currently occupied or leased by a tenant

vicious

savage or spiteful

waddle

to move awkwardly

wallow

to roll or flounder in a clumsy manner

wharf

a dock or pier

whim

a sudden desire or turn of mind

whitewash

to whiten with whitewash, a liquid composition of water, lime, and whiting