The Picture of Dorian Gray Vocabulary List

The Picture of Dorian Gray Vocabulary List 1 (Q2) Precis (noun): Make summary of. “I know she goes in for giving a rapid precis of all her guests. ” (Pg. 14) Ravelled (verb): To tangle or entangle. “”How horribly unjust of you! ” cried Lord Henry, tilting his hat back and looking up at the little clouds that, like ravelled skeins of glossy white silk, were drifting across the hollowed turquoise of the summer sky. ” (Pg. 15) Candour (noun): The state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness. All the candour of youth was there, as well as all youth’s passionate purity. ” (Pg. 26) Sovereignty (noun): Rightful status, independence, or prerogative. “It has its divine right of sovereignty. ” (Pg. 35) Hedonism (noun): Doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good.

“A new Hedonism–that is what our century wants. ” (Pg. 36) Staccato (adjective): Shortened or detached when played or sung. “Suddenly the painter appeared at the door of the studio and made staccato signs for them to come in. ” (Pg. 37) Caprice (noun): Sudden, unpredictable change, as of one’s mind or the weather. The only difference between a caprice and a lifelong passion is that the caprice lasts a little longer. ” (Pg. 38) Vermillion (noun): A bright red, to reddish-orange color. “”It is quite finished,” he cried at last, and stooping down he wrote his name in long vermilion letters on the left-hand corner of the canvas. ” (Pg. 38) Panegyric (noun): Formal or elaborate praise. “Then had come Lord Henry Wotton with his strange panegyric on youth, his terrible warning of its brevity. ” (Pg. 40) Wizen (verb): To wither; shrivel up; dry up. Yes, there would be a day when his face would be wrinkled and wizen, his eyes dim and colourless, the grace of his figure broken and deformed. ” (Pg. 40) Divan (noun): A sofa or couch, with no arms or back, often usable as a bed. “The hot tears welled into his eyes; he tore his hand away and, flinging himself on the divan, he buried his face in the cushions, as though he was praying. ” (Pg. 42) Hansom (noun): A low-hung, two-wheeled, covered vehicle drawn by one horse, for two passengers, with the driver being mounted on an elevated seat behind and the reins running over the roof. “Come, Mr.

Gray, my hansom is outside, and I can drop you at your own place. Good-bye, Basil. It has been a most interesting afternoon. ” -Lord Henry (Pg. 48) Indolence (adjective): Disliking work or effort; lazy; idle. “His father had been our ambassador at Madrid when Isabella was young and Prim unthought of, but had retired from the diplomatic service in a capricious moment of annoyance on not being offered the Embassy at Paris, a post to which he considered that he was fully entitled by reason of his birth, his indolence, the good English of his dispatches, and his inordinate passion for pleasure. (Pg. 49) Collieries (noun): A coal mine, including all buildings and equipment. “He paid some attention to the management of his collieries in the Midland counties, excusing himself for this taint of industry on the ground that the one advantage of having coal was that it enabled a gentleman to afford the decency of burning wood on his own hearth. ” (Pg. 49) Cheroot (noun): A cigar having open ends. “When Lord Henry entered the room, he found his uncle sitting in a rough shooting-coat, smoking a cheroot and grumbling over The Times. (Pg. 49)

Facile (adjective): Moving, acting, working, proceeding, etc. , with ease, sometimes with superficiality. “He invented a facile excuse, and having taken the vacant seat next to her, looked round to see who was there. ” (Pg. 57) Liveried (adjective): Clad in livery as servants. “At last, liveried in the costume of the age, reality entered the room in the shape of a servant to tell the duchess that her carriage was waiting. ” (Pg. 65) Expound (verb): To explain; interpret. Some day, when you are tired of London, come down to Treadley and expound to me your philosophy of pleasure over some admirable Burgundy I am fortunate enough to possess. ” (Pg. 67) Cosmopolitan (noun): A person who is free from local, provincial, or national bias or attachment; citizen of the world. “Makes it quite cosmopolitan, doesn’t it? You have never been to any of my parties, have you, Mr. Gray? ” (Pg. 71) Brocade (noun): Fabric woven with an elaborate design, esp. one having a raised overall pattern. “I went to look after a piece of old brocade in Wardour Street and had to bargain for hours for it. ” (Pg. 72)