The Phantom of the Opera - Chapter 2: The New Margarita

Julie G. (United Kingdom)
Words from Gaston Leroux's novel "The Phantom of the Opera" (English translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos, 1911).

[The maker of this vocabulary list would like to add that although this is the best-known and most widely available English translation of Leroux's novel, it is in fact an abridged version, despite some publishers' claims to the contrary. It is, however, in the public domain, and has a very nice style to it. Personally, I recommend either Lowell Bair's or Mireille Ribiere's translations if you're looking for the full text in English.]
33 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. saucy
    improperly forward or bold
    "Six months ago, she used to sing like a CROCK! But do let us get by, my dear count", continues the brat, with a saucy curtsey.
  2. foyer
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    They all went on to the foyer of the ballet, which was already full of people.
  3. astonished
    filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise
    Faure and Krauss had sung; and, on that evening, Christine Daaé had revealed her true self, for the first time, to the astonished and enthusiastic audience.
  4. macabre
    shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
  5. reverie
    an abstracted state of absorption
  6. revive
    cause to regain consciousness
  7. radiance
    an attractive combination of good health and happiness
    Daae revealed a new Margarita that night, a Margarita of a splendor, a radiance hitherto unsuspected.
  8. incomprehensible
    difficult to understand
  9. diva
    a distinguished female operatic singer
  10. frenzy
    state of violent mental agitation
    The Comte de Chagny, standing up in his box, listened to all this frenzy and took part in it by loudly applauding.
  11. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    He was exquisitely polite to the women and a little haughty to the men, who did not always forgive him for his successes in society.
  12. irreproachable
    free of guilt; not subject to blame
    He had an excellent heart and an irreproachable conscience.
  13. widower
    a man whose wife is dead, especially if not remarried
    The Chagnys owned a great deal of property; and, when the old count, who was a widower, died, it was no easy task for Philippe to accept the management of so large an estate.
  14. waive
    do without or cease to hold or adhere to
  15. primogeniture
    right of inheritance belonging exclusively to the eldest son
  16. dowry
    money brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
    When the two sisters married, on the same day, they received their portion from their brother, not as a thing rightfully belonging to them, but as a dowry for which they thanked him.
  17. widow
    a woman whose husband is dead, especially if not remarried
  18. furlough
    a temporary leave of absence, especially from military duty
  19. admiral
    the supreme commander of a fleet
  20. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
  21. witty
    demonstrating striking cleverness and humor
  22. obstinacy
    resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires
  23. chaff
    material consisting of seed coverings and pieces of stem
  24. postpone
    hold back to a later time
  25. rogue
    a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
    "Oh, the rogue, the rogue!"
  26. agitation
    a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
    The doctor tried to make a short protest, but, perceiving the girl's evident agitation, he thought the best remedy was not to thwart her.
  27. remedy
    a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieves pain
  28. thwart
    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
  29. bundle
    a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
    Suddenly the dressing-room door opened and the maid came out by herself, carrying bundles.
  30. quiver
    shake with fast, tremulous movements
  31. indiscretion
    the trait of lacking good judgment or tact
    He quite failed to see that the indiscretion of his conduct was exceeding all bounds.
  32. wayward
    resistant to guidance or discipline
    At a given moment in his wayward progress, an icy draft struck him in the face.
  33. mechanically
    in a manner like a machine
    Pointing to the stretcher, he asked mechanically: "What's that?"
Created on Mon Jan 12 11:06:14 EST 2015

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