Marple Vocab

Milquetoast

a person who is timid or submissive

Hackneyed

lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal; overused; worn out

Macabre

disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury; morbid; dreadful

Assuage

to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense; to relieve; ease; alleviate

Myriad

a countless or extremely great number; large quantity; a multitude; a plethora

Naiveté

lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement

Anomaly

something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; oddity; abnormality; aberration

Dearth

a scarcity or lack of something; shortage; scarcity; lack of

Superfluous

unnecessary; more than enough; extra

Juxtaposition

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect; comparison of 2 things

Nuance

a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound; subtle difference; fine distinction; variation

Nuanced

characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression

Volatile

liable to change rapidly and unpredictably; unpredictable; capricious

Fascism

an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government; dictatorship; totalitarianism; racism; xenophobia

Fascist

a follower of the political philosophy of fascism

Microcosm

a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger

Peregrinate

to travel or wander around from place to place

Schlep

to haul or carry

Kibitz

to talk to someone in a friendly and informal way; chat; to look on and offer unwelcome advice

Sobriquet

a nickname

Evanescent

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading; disappearing; vanishing; temporary

Acrimonious

(typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter; vitriolic; rancorous; nasty

Harbinger

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; sign; indication

Ubiquitous

present, appearing, or found everywhere; omnipresent; universal

Magnanimous

very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself; benevolent; noble; altruistic

Omniscient

knowing everything; all-knowing

Omnipotent

having unlimited power; all-powerful; almighty

Nefarious

(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal; evil; heinous

Anachronistic

belonging to a period other than it appears

Abhor

regard with disgust and hatred; detest; hate; loathe; despise

Bon vivant

a person who enjoys a luxurious lifestyle

Aberration

something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; rarity; oddity; anomaly

Sagacity

the quality of being sagacious; wisdom

Demagogue

a political leader who seeks support by making false claims and promises and preys upon people’s fears and prejudices

Pretentious

having or showing the unpleasant quality of people who want to be seen as more impressive, successful, or important than they really are; pompous

Deluge

a severe flood; to overwhelm with a great quantity of something

Subdued

(of a person) quiet and rather reflective or depressed; somber; woebegone; low-key

Dossier

a collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject; information; data; report

Orchestra

rounded stage on which chorus and actors perform

Ode

a lyric poem, usually praising someone or something

Lyric poem

a short poem of songlike quality

Choral ode

ode sung by the chorus in classical Greek drama

Strophe

first choral ode, chorus turns east to west

Antistrophe

answering choral ode, chorus turns west to east

Aside

words spoken in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

Chorus

they sang, chanted an entrance song, engage in dialogue with the characters through the leader, sing and dance choral songs, commented on characters/events of the play

Choragus

leader of a chorus

Exodus

when the chorus exits at the end of the play. They sing a processional song which offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play

Parados

the song sung by the chorus as it first enters the orchestra and dances

Theatron

where the spectators sat. Normally on a hillside, and wrapped around the orchestra

Allusion

a reference to a famous piece of art, literature, or something in your own life

Mythological allusion

when a piece of art, literature, or music hints at a piece of mythology

Dramatic irony

when the audience knows something that the characters do not

Paean

a song of praise or triumph

Tragedy

a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force and having a sorrowful conclusion

Tragic hero

a character of noble stature who has a fatal flaw leading to their downfall

Catharsis

the purging of unwanted emotions

Oedipus Complex

a psychological theory involving a child’s unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent

Polytheists

believing in multiple gods

Fate

events beyond a person’s control; destiny

Free will

the power of acting without fate; independence; freedom

Skene

small building used as changing rooms

Hamartia

missing the mark or fatal flaw

Affirm

to state or assert positively; to maintain as true

Altruistic

selflessness, thinking of others before yourself

Annihilate

to destroy completely

Anti-Semitic

hating or discriminating against Jewish people

Ascertain

to determine

Camaraderie

a good friendship

Colossus

something that is huge in size or importance

Constraint

a limitation or restriction

Crematory

a furnace where a corpse can be burned and reduced to ash

Delusion

a false belief or opinion, an idea not based in reality

Disheveled

looking untidy

Edicts

an official order by an authority

Exalted

held in high regard or high in status

Exalt

to hold in high regard or high status

Gallows

a structure for the hanging of criminals

Imprudent

not showing care for the consequence of an action

Invectives

abusive, insulting language

Lethal

deadly

Liberated

to set free from being imprisoned

Oblivion

a state of nothingness

Paternal

related to the father

Preoccupied

absorbed in thought

Prominent

important or well-known

Ration

an amount of food, water, or other supplies allotted to a person

Redemption

being saved from sin or error

Rescind

to cancel or withdraw

Sanctify

declared holy; to bless

Sublime

of such excellence, grandeur or beauty to inspire great admiration

Surreptitiously

done in a secretive or sneaky manner

Unprecedented

never done or known before

Vigor

active strength or force

Haughty

arrogant or pompous

Venerable

respected due to age, wisdom, or character; revered; honored

Laud

to praise; applaud; commend

Obstinate

refusing to change; stubborn; obdurate

Mundane

lacking excitement; dull; boring

Rancorous

characterized by bitterness or resentment; bitter; spiteful; acrimonious; malevolent