Vocabulary “A Raisin in the Sun”
Act I, sc I
contradiction (n) act of disagreeing
erratic (adj) wandering; eccentric;
irregular in movement
graft (n) acquisition of gain in a dishonest or questionable
way
permeate (v) to penetrate and pass through
oppression (n) the act of subduing or putting down
vindictive (adj) revengeful
rigidity (n) quality of being stiff (ridgid)
or uptight lynched (v) killed by a mob
without legal sanction futile (adj)
worthless; trivial
tentative (adj) experimental
tyranny (n) cruel government; oppression; undue severity
furtively (adv) secretly
heathenism (n) the belief that God does not exist
incredulity (n) state of being doubtful
neurotic (n) a person who is emotionally unstable
raucous (adj) harsh or hoarse
tyrant (n) a ruler with absolute power
vengeance (n) revenge
sc ii
assimilationism (n)
the act of becoming like everyone else in society
forlorn (adj) abandoned; lost;
destitute
mutilate (v) to main; to cut off a limb
insinuate (v) to hint or instill subtlely
recitation (n) act of reciting orally in front of an audience
Act II sc I
coquettish (adj) acting in a flirting
manner sc
ii
idiom (n) a dialect; peculiar to oneself
transaction (n) a conducting of business; a proceeding sc iii
strident (adj) harsh; creaking;
grating
promenades (n) place for waling for pleasure of for show in
public agitation (n) disturbance;
commotion
burlesque (adj) tending to excite
laughter through ridiculous
antics
orientation (n) the act of beginning
facetious (n) merry; witty; playful
ludricous (adj)
very ridiculous; comical
eccentric (adj) different from
accepted conduct
cliché (n) overused phrase or expression
jubilance (n) act of rejoicing
nonplussed (adj) not knowing what to do
or say
sobriety (n) moderation in drink; calmness; seriousness
scrutinize (v) to investigate closely
shrewd (adj) showing cleverness and
intelligence
undaunted (adj) determined
Act III
ominous (adj) foreboding something
bad infinity (n)
never-ending retrogression (n)
return to a former state
illiteracy (n) state of being unlearned precarious (adj)
held at the will of another
entrepreneur (n) a successful businessman pronouncements(n) declarations of opinions