The Portrait of a Lady - Vocabulary Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the expressions and key terms found in the first page of Khushwant Singh's 'The Portrait of a Lady'.

Khushwant Singh

The author of the story 'The Portrait of a Lady'.

the thought was almost revolting

An expression used to describe the author's difficulty in believing his grandmother was once young and pretty.

an expanse of pure white serenity

An expression symbolizing peacefulness and kindness, used to describe the grandmother's calm appearance in her spotless white clothing.

a turning-point

A significant moment of change in a situation or relationship.

accepted her seclusion with resignation

To calmly accept being alone or isolated without protest or complaint.

a veritable bedlam of chirrupings

A scene of great noise, confusion, and chaos caused specifically by the sounds of many birds.

frivolous rebukes

Light-hearted, non-serious, or playful scoldings.

the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum

The loose and worn-out surface of an old, broken-down musical instrument.

fables of the Prophets

Religious or moral stories about holy figures that the grandmother told the children.

mantelpiece

The shelf above a fireplace where the grandfather's portrait was hung in the drawing room.

hobbled

To walk with difficulty or in an awkward way, typically due to age or physical limitation.

absurd and undignified

How the author viewed his grandmother's stories of playing games as a child, finding them illogical and lacking in respectability.