Name: ___________________________________________ Hour: _________ Date: ________________________
A Raisin in the Sun: Vocabulary
The following list provides definitions for some of the more difficult words in the text. These words are potential for
periodic quizzes and they may be found on the exam.
Act I, scene i
defiance
doggedly
exasperated
furtively
futile
graft
ledger
mechanically
permeated
pretenses
proposition
raucous
rousing
stupor
tentatively
tyrant
undistinguished
vain
vengeance
viciously
vindicated
resistance
stubbornly
annoyed; irritated; fed up
done secretly
useless
the illegal or unfair acquisition of money
a book used to record accounts and transactions
acting like a machine
spread throughout; diffused
false appearances or reasons
proposal or plan
harsh sounding; loud
vigorous; intense
a daze; mental unawareness
cleared of accusation; blame, suspicion or doubt
ruler who exercises power in a harsh, cruel manner
common; nothing special
futile; failing to achieve the desired result
with violence or fury
violently; maliciously
justified; proven right
Act I, scene ii
assimilationist
bastion
beseechingly
evading
forlornly
haphazardly
heathenism
inappropriately
indignantly
insinuatingly
mutilated
quizzical
raptly
recitation
suppress
advocate of blending in with the culture
strong, secure stronghold
in a begging or pleading manner
escaping; eluding
looking pitiful, desperate or hopeless
without care; characterized by chance
“religion” of those who don’t believe in God and/or are uncivilized
unsuitably; improperly
righteously angry
with more meaning than the spoken word
maimed; damaged
puzzled; confused
in a deeply engaged manner
reciting a memorized speech
to keep secret
Act II, scene i
arrogant
cliché
coquettishly
dumbfounded
eccentric
emerge
imploring
incredulity
intently
menacingly
oppressive
plaintively
primly
promenades
Prometheus
resignation
sarcastically
scrutinizing
submerge
overbearingly proud; haughty
trite or over used expression or idea
in a manner befitting a woman who flirts with men
confused and surprised briefly
odd; different from the norm
to come out from
begging; pleading
doubt; disbelief
with careful attention
in a threatening way
tyrannical
sorrowfully
excessively proper
slowly walks in measured steps as if on display
mythical figure who stole fire from the gods for humans
acceptance of the inevitable or unavoidable
in a manner using statements or implications opposite to the underlying meaning
examining in detail
to put under or plunge into water; figuratively, to hid or cover something
Act II, scene ii-iii
agitation
amiably
catastrophe
deceptive
deplore
desperation
enunciating
exuberant
facetiousness
gall
labored
ludicrous
nonplussed
pantomimes
presumably
rebuffs
revelation
strident
undaunted
emotional disturbance
good naturedly
tragedy; large-scale disaster
deceitful; dishonest
despise; have utter disgust for
condition of being driven to take almost any risk as a last resort
stating clearly and distinctly
high level of joy
joking or jesting; often inappropriate
nerve; insolence
worked at a task
amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity
confused; stymied
silent communication using hands and facial expressions
probably; reasonably supposed
refuses
disclosure or realization that reveals previously hidden information
loud; irritating; high-pitched
not discouraged
Act III
ails
amid
briskly
despair
epitaph
exceptional
flippancy
lingers
mirage
monologue
ominous
outmoded
penetrated
plunder
precariously
retrogression
reverie
wrought
pains or makes ill
among; in the midst of
quickly; speedily
hopelessness
sentence or phrase that summarizes a person’s life or character
above the ordinary
casualness; without seriousness
waits around; moves slowly
optical illusion; something you see that isn’t there
long speech by an individual
menacing; threatening
out of style
pierced; affected; diffused
steal; take forcefully
placed dangerously
movement backward; going from a better to worse state
dream-like state
shaped; made