All My Sons: Acts 2 and 3

by Arthur Miller
In the aftermath of World War II, two families come to terms with their involvement in the manufacture of faulty airplane parts that caused the deaths of many soldiers.

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

words only definitions & notes
  1. sprig
    a small branch or stem, usually with leaves or flowers
    She has on a dressing-gown, carries a tray of grape-juice drink in a pitcher, and glasses with sprigs of mint in them.
  2. noncommittal
    refusing to bind oneself to a particular course of action
    CHRIS [noncommittally]: Don’t worry about Annie.
  3. intern
    an advanced student or graduate in medicine
    SUE: You’d be surprised. It makes all the difference. I married an interne. On my salary. And that was bad, because as soon as a woman supports a man he owes her something. You can never owe somebody without resenting them, [ANN laughs.] That’s true, you know.
  4. resent
    feel bitter or indignant about
    SUE: You’d be surprised. It makes all the difference. I married an interne. On my salary. And that was bad, because as soon as a woman supports a man he owes her something. You can never owe somebody without resenting them, [ANN laughs.] That’s true, you know.
  5. aspersion
    an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
    ANN: I certainly do ask you. [She seems about to burst out.] You oughtn’t cast aspersions like that, I’m surprised at you.
  6. idealism
    belief that the best possible concepts should be pursued
    SUE: So what? They give him credit for being smart. I do, too, I’ve got nothing against Joe. But if Chris wants people to put on the hair shirt let him take off his broadcloth. He’s driving my husband crazy with that phony idealism of his, and I’m at the end of my rope on it!
  7. ignoramus
    a person who lacks intelligence or sophistication
    CHRIS [to ANN]: You ever meet a bigger ignoramus?
  8. brooch
    fasten with or as if with a decorative pin
    KELLER: What’s the matter with brooch?
  9. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
    ANN [laughing]: Well, in day school it’s broach.
  10. civilize
    teach or refine to be sophisticated in taste or judgment
    GEORGE: Don’t civilize me!
  11. forestall
    keep from happening or arising; make impossible
    ANN [quickly, to forestall an outburst]: Sit down, dear.
  12. appeal
    a legal proceeding to review a lower court decision
    They knew he was a liar the first time, but in the appeal they believed that rotten lie and now Joe is a big shot and your father is the patsy.
  13. deliberation
    the trait of thoughtfulness in action or decision
    GEORGE [turning to CHRIS, with deliberation]: I’ll ask you something, and look me in the eye when you answer me.
  14. unabashed
    not embarrassed
    GEORGE [her pity, open and unabashed, reaches into him, and he smiles sadly]: I know, I...
  15. relish
    derive or receive pleasure from
    GEORGE [relishing her solicitude]: I feel all right.
  16. solicitude
    a feeling of excessive concern
    GEORGE [relishing her solicitude]: I feel all right.
  17. draft
    compulsory military service
    LYDIA [a little apologetically]: No, he was always one year ahead of the draft.
  18. reprimand
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    MOTHER [as a reprimand]: She’s beautiful, you damned fool!
  19. fascism
    a political theory advocating an authoritarian government
    MOTHER: And you didn’t laugh enough. While you were getting mad about Fascism Frank was getting into her bed.
  20. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
    KELLER [the laughter stops. With strained joviality]: Well! Look who’s here!
  21. somberly
    in a serious and solemn manner
    GEORGE [shakes hands—somberly]: How’re you, Joe?
  22. dominant
    most frequent or common
    GEORGE [with bitterness dominant]: Why?
  23. swindler
    a person who steals by means of deception or fraud
    KELLER [driving in, but restrained]: But it’s good to remember those things, kid. The way he cursed Frank because the stock went down. Was that Frank’s fault? To listen to him Frank was a swindler.
  24. brisk
    quick and energetic
    FRANK [enters briskly from driveway, holding Larry’s horoscope in his hand. He comes to KATE]: Kate! Kate!
  25. ultimatum
    a final peremptory demand
    CHRIS [as an ultimatum]: Mother, I’m going ahead with it.
  26. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    MOTHER [with no less force, but turning from him]: Then let your father go. [Pause. CHRIS stands transfixed.]
  27. unyielding
    stubbornly unwilling to give in
    CHRIS [unyielding]: Dad...you did it?
  28. presently
    at this time or period; now
    Presently JIM, dressed in jacket and hat, appears from L., and seeing her, goes up beside her.
  29. grope
    search blindly or uncertainly
    JIM: Oh, no, he’ll come back. We all come back, Kate. These private little revolutions always die. The compromise is always made. In a peculiar way. Frank is right—every man does have a star. The star of one’s honesty. And you spend your life groping for it, but once it’s out it never lights again.
  30. husky
    deep and harsh sounding
    KELLER [his voice is husky. Comes down to her]: I don’t like him mixing in so much.
Created on Mon Jan 27 14:09:14 EST 2020 (updated Mon Jan 27 14:43:35 EST 2020)

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