Our Town: Act 1

by Thornton Wilder
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning play, many characters, including a Stage Manager who takes on several roles, use imaginary props and pantomime to portray life and death in the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire.

Here are links to our lists for the play: Act 1, Act 2, Act 3
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. proscenium
    the part of a stage between the curtain and the orchestra
    As the house lights go down he has finished setting the stage and, leaning against the right proscenium pillar, watches the late arrivals in the audience.
  2. latitude
    an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
    The name of the town is Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire—just across the Massachusetts line: latitude 42 degrees 40 minutes; longitude 70 degrees 37 minutes.
  3. trellis
    latticework used to support climbing plants
    Two arched trellises, covered with vines and flowers, are pushed out, one by each proscenium pillar.
  4. sentinel
    a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
    In those days our newspaper come out twice a week—the Grover's Corners Sentinel—and this is Editor Webb’s house.
  5. remarkable
    worthy of notice
    Nice town, y’know what I mean? Nobody very remarkable ever come out of it, s’far as we know.
  6. fatigue
    temporary loss of strength and energy from hard work
    At the point where he would turn to approach his house, he stops, sets down his—imaginary—black bag, takes off his hat, and rubs his face with fatigue, using an enormous handkerchief.
  7. veranda
    a porch along the outside of a building
    (sound of newspapers sliding along the verandah)
  8. whinny
    the characteristic sounds made by a horse
    (horse whinny off left)
  9. sassy
    improperly forward or bold
    Is he sassy to you?
  10. gingham
    a woven cotton fabric, typically with a checked pattern
    I washed and ironed the blue gingham for you special.
  11. stunt
    check the growth or development of
    Breakfast is just as good as any other meal and I won’t have you gobbling like wolves. It’ll stunt your growth,—that’s a fact.
  12. gradual
    proceeding in small stages
    I’ve been saving it up gradual.
  13. unobtrusive
    not undesirably noticeable
    The STAGE MANAGER goes off, unobtrusively, right.
  14. laden
    filled with a great quantity
    MRS. WEBB, laden with two large bowls, crosses through trellis, sits on bench and begins stringing beans.
  15. legacy
    a gift of personal property by will
    Well, I did beat about the bush a little and said that if I got a legacy—that’s the way I put it—I’d make him take me somewhere.
  16. discontent
    showing or experiencing dissatisfaction or restless longing
    No, he said, it might make him discontented with Grover’s Corners to go traipsin’ about Europe; better let well enough alone, he says.
  17. despair
    abandon hope; lose heart
    Mr. Webb’s a good mind to give up Napoleon and move over to the Civil War, only Dr. Gibbs being one of the greatest experts in the country just makes him despair.
  18. savant
    a learned person
    PROFESSOR WILLARD, a rural savant, pince-nez on a wide satin ribbon, enters from the right with some notes in his hand.
  19. vestige
    an indication that something has been present
    A shelf of Devonian basalt crosses it with vestiges of Mesozoic shale, and some sandstone outcroppings; but that’s all more recent: two hundred, three hundred million years old.
  20. outcropping
    part of a rock formation that juts above surrounding land
    A shelf of Devonian basalt crosses it with vestiges of Mesozoic shale, and some sandstone outcroppings; but that’s all more recent: two hundred, three hundred million years old.
  21. stock
    the descendants of one line or individual
    Yes...anthropological data: Early Amerindian stock. Cotahatchee tribes...no evidence before the tenth century of this era...hm...now entirely disappeared...possible traces in three families.
  22. gauge
    an instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity
    The population, at the moment, is 2,642. The Postal District brings in 507 more, making a total of 3,149. —Mortality and birth rates: constant. —By MacPherson’s gauge: 6.032.
  23. oblige
    provide a service or favor for someone
    Thank you very much, Professor. We’re all very much obliged to you, I’m sure.
  24. illiterate
    not able to read or write
    We’re lower middle class: sprinkling of professional men...ten per cent illiterate laborers.
  25. indifferent
    marked by a lack of interest
    Politically, we’re eighty-six per cent Republicans; six per cent Democrats; four per cent Socialists; rest, indifferent. Religiously, we’re eighty-five per cent Protestants; twelve per cent Catholics; rest, indifferent.
  26. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    BELLIGERENT MAN AT BACK OF AUDITORIUM. Is there no one in town aware of social injustice and industrial inequality?
  27. diligent
    characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks
    Well, I dunno...I guess we’re all hunting like everybody else for a way the diligent and sensible can rise to the top and the lazy and quarrelsome can sink to the bottom.
  28. privilege
    a special advantage or benefit not enjoyed by all
    Mr. Webb’s cuttin’ his lawn over there; one man in ten thinks it’s a privilege to push his own lawn mower.
  29. shrill
    having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
    Chicken sounds are again heard for a moment. Shrill girls’ voices are heard, off left.
  30. elegance
    a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste
    EMILY comes along Main Street, carrying some books. There are some signs that she is imagining herself to be a lady of startling elegance.
  31. careen
    move sideways or in an unsteady way
    GEORGE GIBBS comes careening down Main Street. He is throwing a ball up to dizzying heights, and waiting to catch it again. This sometimes requires his taking six steps backward.
  32. telegraph
    apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire
    We might work out a kinda telegraph from your window to mine; and once in a while you could give me a kinda hint or two about one of those algebra problems.
  33. wheedle
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    EMILY. (wheedling a bit) Mama, were you pretty?
  34. languid
    lacking spirit or liveliness
    Now we’ll do: "Art Thou Weary; Art Thou Languid?”
  35. snivel
    cry or whine with snuffling
    (GEORGE snivels.)
    Well, I knew all I had to do was call your attention to it. Here’s a handkerchief, son.
  36. traipse
    walk or tramp about
    Traipsin’ around the streets at this hour of the night.
  37. insist
    be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
    I think it’s my duty to make plans for you to get a real rest and change. And if I get that legacy, well, I’m going to insist on it.
  38. reckon
    expect, believe, or suppose
    I reckon you’ll have your wood chopped for a while anyway.
  39. burgle
    enter and rob a dwelling
    They haven't got nothing fit to burgle and everybody knows it.
  40. constable
    a law officer with limited authority
    Most of the lights are out. No, there’s Constable Warren trying a few doors on Main Street.
Created on Tue Aug 27 20:11:30 EDT 2013 (updated Fri Jun 16 11:26:40 EDT 2023)

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