Pygmalion: Act IV

by George Bernard Shaw
In this play inspired by the Greek myth of Pygmalion, Professor Henry Higgins bets that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower seller, into a cultured and genteel lady. Read the full texthere.

Here are links to our lists for the play: Preface–Act I, Act II, Act III, Act IV, Act V–Sequel
12 words 1341 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. pallor
    an unnatural lack of color in the skin
    She is tired: her pallor contrasts strongly with her dark eyes and hair; and her expression is almost tragic.
  2. tomfoolery
    silly or senseless behavior
    What an evening! What a crew! What a silly tomfoolery!
  3. fervently
    with strong emotion or zeal
    HIGGINS [fervently] Thank God it's over!
  4. purgatory
    a temporary condition of torment or suffering
    I tell you, Pickering, never again for me. No more artificial duchesses. The whole thing has been simple purgatory.
  5. subjective
    taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias
    All this irritation is purely subjective.
  6. enlightened
    characterized by full comprehension of the problem involved
    HIGGINS [enlightened, but not at all impressed] Oh, that's what's worrying you, is it?
  7. condescend
    do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
    He thrusts his hands into his pockets, and walks about in his usual manner, rattling the contents of his pockets, as if condescending to a trivial subject out of pure kindness.
  8. cant
    stock phrases that have become nonsense through repetition
    Don't you insult human relations by dragging all this cant about buying and selling into it. You needn’t marry the fellow if you don’t like him.
  9. dudgeon
    a feeling of intense righteous anger
    He turns on his heel and is about to go in extreme dudgeon.
  10. perfunctorily
    in a set manner without serious attention
    He perfunctorily thrusts them into his pockets, unconsciously decorating himself with the protruding ends of the chains.
  11. lavish
    bestow or expend profusely
    Damn Mrs. Pearce; and damn the coffee; and damn you; and damn my own folly in having lavished MY hard-earned knowledge and the treasure of my regard and intimacy on a heartless guttersnipe.
  12. decorum
    propriety in manners and conduct
    He goes out with impressive decorum, and spoils it by slamming the door savagely.
Created on Mon Feb 09 15:29:11 EST 2015 (updated Fri Aug 01 18:02:14 EDT 2025)

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