The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water Glossary

Mute

Unable to speak

Asset

A piece of property. This term often connotes value.

Confidential

Made secret by ordinance.

Magnetism

An electrical charge that attracts or repels two objects; in extended use, irresistible attraction of any kind

Blaspheme

To speak with irreverence to something sacred.

Immaculate

Spotlessly clean and flawless.

Missionary position

A basic sex position, often considered boring.

Suture

The act of closing a wound using stitches or heat.

Commie

A derogatory term for a communist

Ruskie

A derogatory term for a Russian

Vivisection

Investigative surgery on a live animal for the purposes of scientific research. The animal is not intended to survive the surgery.

Conversationalist

a person who greatly engages in conversations with others

Other

A term referring to a person outside of the norm. Examples of "the other" in this film are Elisa on account of her muteness, Giles on account of his homosexuality, and the creature on account of its strange identity.

Workplace harassement

Unwanted intrusive interactions or assault that occur in the workplace, often sexual in nature

Cadillac

A top-of-the-line American luxury vehicle that symbolizes upper-middle-class affluence

Israeli Popper

A fictional explosive devise that temporarily disables a local electrical grid

Double agent

A spy who goes undercover as an employee in one government while collecting intelligence for an enemy government

Butter cake

A classic American cake, similar to angel-food cake

Cattle prod

An device that emits electrical shocks, often used to get cattle to move on their way to slaughter.

American Sign Language

A language that uses standardized hand gestures instead of spoken words to communicate, often used by the deaf and the mute.