PYGMALION VOCABULARY
ACTS III, IV, V STUDY GUIDE
This guide will help you understand the usage of each word and will point out any subtleties or connotations in meaning. Note that
you may not memorize these sample sentences and use them on the quiz. If this is done, no credit will be awarded.
Pretension: Someone with pretension or who is pretentious is someone who considers himself better or more
important than others. However, that feeling of being better than others is undeserved. This word has a
negative connotation.
• The restaurant has excellent food and a creative chef, but the atmosphere and the waiters lack pretension.
• She was somehow able to describe all her awards and accolades without pretension.
• I cannot stand how pretentious he is! He is always looking down on others!
Contemplate: To contemplate is to think deeply about something, and it is often used in regards to making
decisions.
• I contemplated whether I should speak up or stay silent when I saw my friend acting like a bully.
• She contemplated the meaning of the text before raising her hand.
Cynical: A person is described as cynical or called a cynic if he or she has a certain distrust in other people
or institutions. It is sometimes used with a negative connotation.
• He is a cynical person; whenever he meets someone new he often believes that the first conversation proves
the other person pretentious or superficial.
• He has a healthy cynicism towards the government: he is cautious enough to research everything before
believing anything.
• Her cynicism often stopped her from making close friends.
Pedantic: While there is a noun version of this word (pedant) it is most often used as an adjective or adverb.
Someone who can be described as pedantic is unimaginative.
• Maurice Sendak, famous children’s book author, once said, “What I’m objecting to is that picture books are
judged from a particular, pedantic point of view vis-à-vis their relation to children—and I insist that a
picture book is much more.”
Extricate: To free or remove someone or something FROM something else. This word is often used
reflexively. The prefix “ex” means “out of,” and the Latin root word “tricae” means trifles, troubles, or
perplexities.
• When the conversation turned into something strange and awkward, she extricated herself from the
uncomfortable situation.
• Survivors were extricated from the wreckage of the sunken ship.
• They extricated the dead animal from the trap.
Discreet: Something discreet is not likely to be seen or noticed by others. It can also, when used with a
positive connotation, indicate someone who has good judgment; however, it is not always or often used in
this sense.
• The students at Gonzaga attempted to pass notes discreetly, but their lack of prudency resulted in the
teacher catching them and giving them detention.
• When I was ready to leave the party, I made a discreet gesture to my friend to signal to her it was time to
go.
Sanguinary: There are two meanings to this word: bloodthirsty and murderous OR cruel and savage. Note
that the second meaning is used in Pygmalion.
• The horror movie was so sanguinary that I had to leave the theater. (first meaning)
• His sanguinary words were so cruel that they cut right through me. (second meaning)
Consolation: This word is often used when referring to a “consolation prize,” or a prize one gets simply to
make him or her feel less disappointment because he or she did not win the real prize. So, essentially, to
console someone is to do something to make a person feel less sad or disappointed.
• The priest consoled the grieving family after the funeral ended by talking about the good memories of the
deceased in an attempt to raise their spirits.
• The kind boy’s words were a consolation to me when I was going through a rough patch in my life.
Pallor: Note that the adjective form (pallid) of this word changes greatly from the noun form (pallor). It
means paleness, often caused by illness or even fear.
• His sickly pallor indicated that he was ill.
• His pallid skin indicated that he was sick.
• His pallor indicated his fear: all the blood rushed out of his face.
Fervently: Note that the noun form (fervor) is very different from the adjective (fervent) and adverb
(fervently) forms.
• The politician spoke with fervor about the new bill she was promoting.
• The politician spoke fervently about the new bill she was promoting.
Presumptuous: This word is related to pretentious; they are very similar in meaning. This word also always
has a negative connotation. If someone speaks in a presumptuous way, he or she speaks in a way too
confidently and rudely, often overstepping his or her bounds or making assumptions.
• “It’s a little presumptuous of you to assume that I’m your new best friend just because I invited you along.”
(Great sample sentence from the Merriam-Webster dictionary)
• I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but should you really be doing that?
Subjective: The opposite of being subjective is being objective. To be subjective is to base a conclusion on
feelings, opinions, or personal experiences rather than objective facts and information.
• We remove first person pronouns from our essays because we want to give our readers the feel of
objectivity rather than subjectivity.
• Opinion-editorials are by nature subjective, but news articles should always remain objective.
Condescend: To condescend is very similar to the verb to presume. Condescension is very similar to
pretension. If someone is condescending, shows condescension, or condescends to someone or something, he
or she sows that he or she believes to be more intelligent or better than others. It might be a great word to use
when discussing Higgins!
• Higgins’ way of speaking to Liza is extremely condescending because he always has an air of superiority
when he talks to her.
• “I will not condescend to answer the sore loser’s charge that I cheated in order to win the race.” (Great
sample sentence from the Merriam-Webster dictionary)
Perfunctorily: Something perfunctory is characterized by routine or superficiality.
• The pianist gave a perfunctory performance that lacked passion. The piece was played correctly, but it
lacked excitement because it was so mechanical.
Pantomime: A pantomime is a way of expressing information or telling a story using only gestures,
movements, and expressions. This word takes the same form as a noun and a verb.
• An actor in the park used pantomime to act out Macbeth.
Indignant: Someone who acts indignantly is feeling or showing anger at an unfairness or injustice. It can be
used with a negative connotation if the indignant attitude is without cause or reason.
• I did not appreciate her indignant attitude in class the other day.
• She wrote an indignant letter to the editor of the local newspaper after an article was published that did not
properly capture the community issue.
Provocation: Note that the verb form of this word is “to provoke.”
• The fight started when one student provoked another without reason.
• Despite repeated provocation, she kept her calm.
Resignation: This could indicate quitting one’s job, but it could also indicate a feeling of giving in, that
something unpleasant or difficult is going to happen but cannot be prevented.
• He decided to resign from his job, move to a new country, and start his life over again.
• We accepted the news of the government shutdown with resignation; we knew we could not prevent this
terrible thing that would keep so many people from earning a paycheck.
Demean: To demean is to lower another person in character, status, or reputation. This is done by one’s
words. It comes from the Latin minare, which means to threaten. It is often used in its present participle form
“demeaning.”
• The way he spoke to her was so demeaning I couldn’t stand it! I had to say something to defend her.
Magnanimous: Someone who is generous or very kind can be described as magnanimous. It has, like so
many English words, Latin roots. The Latin magnus means great, and the Latin animus means spirit.
• Her character can only be described as magnanimous; she is always helping others and is so modest about
doing so.
Sneer: This verb or noun refers specifically to a particular facial expression in which one smiles or laughs
disrespectfully or in a way that shows open dislike.
• Mary said two plus two equals five. Then Emily raised her hand, sneered, at Mary, and said, “She’s wrong.
It equals four.” (note the word is used as a verb here)
• Her sneer showed her contempt. (note the word is used as a noun here)
Avert: To avert is to turn away from something or to prevent something from happening, although it is most
often used in reference to turning away from something.
• He averted an accident by speeding up and swerving out of the way.
• I averted my eyes from the sanguinary horror flick.
Transfiguration: This word is often used in a Biblical sense, but it essentially refers to a change in form or
appearance (i.e. Liza’s transfiguration, which is how it is used in the text).
• After Liza’s transfiguration into a high-class lady, Higgins proclaims his feelings for her.
Supplant
: to supersede, eradicate and substitute, or replace.
• Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian writer, often describes the ways in which old traditions are fading away and
being supplanted by modern ways.
Loath: This word is often used as an adjective, but it can also be a verb.
• I am a proud person and am loath to admit my mistakes.
• I loath eating liver and onions.
*The Merriam-Webster online dictionary was used to help create this study guide.