The Importance of Being Earnest Marple Vocab

cucumber sandwich

This is one of many popular sandwiches intended to be served with tea. Recipes vary, but this will get you close: 8 oz. cream cheese, 1⁄2 cup mayo, 1 pkg. dry Italian salad dressing, 3 - 4 medium size cucumbers, 1 loaf of bread, any type. Mash mayo and cheese together. Mix in salad dressing. Peel and dice cucumber and add to mixture. Leaving the bread crust is optional. Spread mixture on bread and cut in fourths diagonally.

Shropshire

Shropshire is a county west of London known for its sheep.

Tunbridge Wells

This is a city in Kent in southeast England.

Bunburyist

Although not a real word, Bunburyist became often-used throughout English speaking countries because of the popularity of The Importance of Being Earnest. It refers to Algernon’s made-up friend Bunbury, whom he uses as an excuse to get out of social responsibilities.

Wagnerian manner

This phrase implies a loud, demonstrative nature, like the music of German composer Richard Wagner.

crumpet

Also called an English muffin, a crumpet is flat, round, piece of bread, baked on a griddle and usually served toasted.

expurgation

This term refers to the act of removing erroneous or vulgar material from something (such as a book) before it is exposed to the public.

purple of commerce

This is another phrase coined by Wilde. It implies money that comes through work or trade rather than from a privileged birth.

trivet

A trivet is a small, three legged table. Jack uses the term to imply that Gwendolyn is stable and agreeable.

Gorgon

In Greek mythology, the three sisters Stheno, Euryale and Medusa were known as the Gorgons. Each had snakes for hair, and anyone looking into their eyes turned to stone.

profligate

Profligate describes something or someone that is shamefully immoral.

vacillate

To vacillate is to swing from one side to the other. When describing a person, it means he or she cannot decide on a course of action and jumps from one activity to another without completing anything.

Egeria

Egeria is a female advisor or counselor. The word derives from the name of a goddess who served as advisor to a mythic Roman king.

Evensong

Evensong is another word for a daily evening service in the Anglican Church.

rupee

The rupee is the basic monetary unit of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius.

quixotic

To be quixotic means to be caught up in the pursuit of unreachable, idealistic goals. Itc omes from the novel Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes,Thomas Shelton (translator).

buttonhole

Men in Victorian England often placed a flower through the buttonhole of their coat.

Marechal Niel

A Marechal Niel is a variety of rose, fragrant and soft yellow in color.

misanthrope

Someone who hates and mistrusts mankind is called a misanthrope.

womanthrope

Although not a real word, Miss Prism’s meaning is clear: a womanthrope is one who does not trust women.

neologistic

This refers to a new word or a new meaning for a word.

interment

Interment is the act or ritual of interring or burying.

portmanteau

This is a large trunk that opens into two hinged compartments.

dog cart

A dog cart is a light, two-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicle.

equanimity

Equanimity is the quality of being calm and even tempered.

philanthropic work

This refers to the practice of donating money, property or time to persons or groups in need.

terminus

A terminus is the end point of a transportation line.

Oxonian

An Oxonian is a graduate of Oxford University.

Anabaptists

The Anabaptists were a religious group that sprang from the 16th century Reformation. They did not ascribe to baptism.

perambulator

Perambulator is a British word for baby carriage.