Nouns
widow
e.g. Mrs. Yorke is a middle-aged widow.
a woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried.
stout
e.g. Mrs. Yorke is a stout middle age.
rather fat or of heavy build
wander
e.g. She rises stiffly to her feet and begins to wander aimlessly.
to walk or move from place to place without reason
vanity
*She pauses in front of the vanity and looks into its huge mirrors.
a dressing table
intellectual
e.g. Lily is a frustrated intellectual.
a person who spends a lot of time studying and thinking about complicated ideas.
dazed
e.g. She looks slightly dazed. Her eyes stare vacantly..
very confused and unable to think clearly
mumble
e.g. Her lips begin to mumble certain phrases.
to speak in a low voice that is not clear
counterpane
The counterpane catches fire from the cigarette.
bedspread, quilt cover
debt
e.g. We went into debt.
the state of owing money to someone
dull
e.g. Smoking is making you dull!
not bright; boring; slow in thinking and understanding
gasp
e.g.She presses her hand to her forehead and gasps sharply.
to breathe in suddenly and loudly because of surprise, shock, or pain
couch
e.g. She sways slightly on the couch.
sofa
Social pretensions
*She is a middle-aged widow with social pretensions.
Pretending or claiming to have higher social status
cross
e.g. Lily is always cross with her mother.
angry, annoyed
preen
e.g. She preens herself this way and that.
spend a lot of time to look more attractive
aquarium
e.g. She stares vacantly into the brackish aquarium.
a fish tank
means
e.g. We have lived way beyond our means.
money you have; financial resources
sallow
e.g. Lily herself is dark and sallow.
of a sickly, yellowish color
simper
e.g. She grins and simpers at her reflection in the mirror.
to smile or speak in a silly, forced way
boudoir
e.g. You want me to drag him into my boudoir?!
a woman's bedroom