AP English Literature: The Importance of Being Earnest - Vocabulary (Act I-III)

Vocabulary flashcards derived from AP English Literature notes (The Importance of Being Earnest) covering key terms from Act I–III.

Forte

French (doué), your strengths

Demoralize

feelings that “you can’t do it” (losing hope)

Languid

think long + liquid, a slow-moving river

Earnest

being serious about something.

Candid

 a natural or relaxed expression or way of presenting, straightforward and truthful

Sententious

speaking in boring, pompous, and pretentious, and full of moralistic babble.

Cynical

 always having a sour opinion, overlooking the bright side.

Indecorous

not decorated, improper way to behave

Surmise

like summarize, but with clues ot summarize what has happened.

Profligate

like pro flaunt, mindlessly spending money on luxuries

Utilitarian

Utile, useful

Vacillating

someone who can’t make up their mind 

Debonair

de bon, a well-mannered person

Quixotic

toxic sorta, someone who is unrealistic, fantasizing

Misanthrope

a person who hates or mistrusts other people

Neologism

a made-up or new word, like the characters/people in the play

Portmanteau

French, a large suitcase, a coat carry

Equanimity

taking a tragic event calmly, equally balanced 

Impetuous

acting too hastily, spinning is what I think of

Supercilious

super silly, think very highly of themselves

Repentance

the guilt you feel when you do something wrong

Effrontery

being ignorant/arrogant, when you say you have control over something that you actually don’t

Ostentatiously

doing something to attract attention; big word, big actions

Tutelage

 tutor, someone who learns from you is under your tutelage

Heretical

heredity, something that departs from normal beliefs; your parents think something outrageous, so will you

Secular

not affiliated with the church, section away from faith

Consternation

something that stops you in your tracks, a dear concentrated on headlights.

Eccentric - new, different, unusual 

Eccentric

Unconventional or slightly strange; not typical.

Folly

 fole, a fool or being foolish, behavior

Irrevocable

unrecoverable, inevitable