The Importance of Being Earnest: Act I

by Oscar Wilde
Jack and Algernon — two bachelors in 19th-century England — use false identities to get what they want — and get into trouble — in this comedy by Oscar Wilde. Read the full text here. Read the full texthere.

Here are links to our lists for the play: Act I, Act II, Act III
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. forte
    an asset of special worth or utility
    I don’t play accurately—any one can play accurately—but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte.
  2. salver
    a tray for serving food or drinks
    ALGERNON. And, speaking of the science of Life, have you got the cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell?
    LANE. Yes, sir. [Hands them on a salver.]
  3. extravagance
    excessive spending
    Why all these cups? Why cucumber sandwiches? Why such reckless extravagance in one so young?
  4. expressly
    with a clear or definite meaning or purpose
    I am in love with Gwendolen. I have come up to town expressly to propose to her.
  5. propound
    put forward, as of an idea
    That, my dear young friend, is the theory that the corrupt French Drama has been propounding for the last fifty years.
  6. obliged
    having a moral duty to do something
    I’m sorry if we are a little late, Algernon, but I was obliged to call on dear Lady Harbury. I hadn’t been there since her poor husband’s death.
  7. expurgation
    the deletion of parts considered objectionable or harmful
    I’m sure the programme will be delightful, after a few expurgations. French songs I cannot possibly allow. People always seem to think that they are improper, and either look shocked, which is vulgar, or laugh, which is worse.
    Within the play, "expurgation" is used by Lady Bracknell to refer to changes she might want to make in the musical program that Algernon has planned for her reception. Outside the play, Wilde could be referring to the work he had to do (the play originally had 4 acts) to make it an appropriate yet mocking fit for the Victorian audience.
  8. pulpit
    a platform raised to give prominence to the person on it
    The fact is constantly mentioned in the more expensive monthly magazines, and has reached the provincial pulpits, I am told; and my ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Ernest. There is something in that name that inspires absolute confidence.
  9. metaphysical
    highly abstract and overly theoretical
    Ah! that is clearly a metaphysical speculation, and like most metaphysical speculations has very little reference at all to the actual facts of real life, as we know them.
  10. indecorous
    lacking propriety and good taste in manners and conduct
    Rise, sir, from this semi-recumbent posture. It is most indecorous.
  11. indiscretion
    a petty misdeed
    As for the particular locality in which the hand-bag was found, a cloak-room at a railway station might serve to conceal a social indiscretion—has probably, indeed, been used for that purpose before now—but it could hardly be regarded as an assured basis for a recognised position in good society.
  12. indignation
    a feeling of righteous anger
    Lady Bracknell sweeps out in majestic indignation.
  13. profligate
    unrestrained by convention or morality
    What about the profligate Ernest?
  14. apoplexy
    a loss of consciousness from the lack of oxygen in the brain
    I’ll say he died in Paris of apoplexy. Lots of people die of apoplexy, quite suddenly, don’t they?
  15. surmise
    infer from incomplete evidence
    Lane presents several letters on a salver to Algernon. It is to be surmised that they are bills, as Algernon, after looking at the envelopes, tears them up.
Created on Sun Sep 22 21:24:39 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Aug 04 11:42:27 EDT 2025)

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