The Happy Prince and Other Tales

The Happy Prince and Other Tales Glossary

Moor

Open, infertile land

Bulrushes

A specific British plant that grows in the wetlands

Trifling

Frivolous, trivial

Supercilious

Cool and patronizing, haughty

Temperament

One's characteristic behavior

Complacently

Self-satisfied, content, uncaring

Chafe

To feel irritated, uncomfortable

Anodyne

Harmless, innocuous

Ribands

Ribbons

Florid

Flowery, ornate, heavily decorated

Languor

Weakness in body and mind, indolence

Lateen

Being or relating to a rig used especially on the north coast of Africa and characterized by a triangular sail extended by a long spar slung to a low mast

Stanchions

A device that fits loosely around the neck of an animal (such as a cow) and limits forward and backward motion (as in a stall)

Pleasaunce

A feeling of pleasure and delight

Obeisance

A position of bowing, paying homage to

Cumbrous

Unwieldy, heavy, burdensome

Carlots

Boors

Abased

Lowered in esteem or rank or prestige

Stibium

From stibnite, an Egyptian cosmetic used for painting the eyes

Mouldering

Crumbling, decaying