The following list provides definitions for some of the more difficult words in A Raisin in the Sun.
These words may appear on periodic quizzes.
Act I, scene i
Defiance - resistance
doggedly -stubbornly
exasperated - annoyed; irritated; fed up
furtively - done secretly
futile - useless
graft - the illegal or unfair acquisition of money
ledger - a book used to record accounts and transactions
mechanically - acting like a machine
permeated - spread throughout; diffused
pretenses - false appearances or reasons
proposition - proposal or plan
raucous - harsh sounding; loud
rousing - vigorous; intense
stupor - a daze; mental unawareness
tentatively - cleared of accusation; blame, suspicion or doubt
tyrant - ruler who exercises power in a harsh, cruel manner
undistinguished - common; nothing special
vain - futile; failing to achieve the desired result
vengeance - with violence or fury
viciously - violently; maliciously
vindicated - justified; proven right
Act I, scene ii
assimilationist - advocate of blending in with the culture
bastion - strong, secure stronghold
beseechingly - in a begging or pleading manner
evading - escaping; eluding
forlornly - looking pitiful, desperate or hopeless
haphazardly - without care; characterized by chance
heathenism - “religion” of those who don’t believe in God and/or are uncivilized
inappropriately - unsuitably; improperly
indignantly - righteously angry
insinuatingly - with more meaning than the spoken word
mutilated - maimed; damaged
quizzical - puzzled; confused
raptly - in a deeply engaged manner
recitation - reciting a memorized speech
suppress - to keep secret
Act II, scene i
arrogant - overbearingly proud; haughty
cliché - trite or over used expression or idea
coquettishly - in a manner befitting a woman who flirts with men
dumbfounded - confused and surprised briefly
eccentric - odd; different from the norm
emerge - to come out from
imploring - begging; pleading
incredulity - doubt; disbelief
intently - with careful attention
menacingly - in a threatening way
oppressive - tyrannical
plaintively - sorrowfully
primly - excessively proper
promenades - slowly walks in measured steps as if on display
Prometheus - mythical figure who stole fire from the gods for humans
resignation - acceptance of the inevitable or unavoidable
sarcastically - in a manner using statements or implications opposite to the underlying meaning
scrutinizing - examining in detail
submerge - to put under or plunge into water; figuratively, to hid or cover something
Act II, scene ii-iii
Agitation - emotional disturbance
amiably - good naturedly
catastrophe - tragedy; large-scale disaster
deceptive - deceitful; dishonest
deplore - despise; have utter disgust for
desperation - condition of being driven to take almost any risk as a last resort
enunciating - stating clearly and distinctly
exuberant - high level of joy
facetiousness - joking or jesting; often inappropriate
gall - nerve; insolence
labored - worked at a task
ludicrous - amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity
nonplussed - confused; stymied
pantomimes - silent communication using hands and facial expressions
presumably - probably; reasonably supposed
rebuffs - refuses
revelation - disclosure or realization that reveals previously hidden information
strident - loud; irritating; high-pitched
undaunted - not discouraged
Act III
ails - pains or makes ill
amid - among; in the midst of
briskly - quickly; speedily
despair - hopelessness
epitaph - sentence or phrase that summarizes a person’s life or character
exceptional - above the ordinary
flippancy - casualness; without seriousness
lingers - waits around; moves slowly
mirage - optical illusion; something you see that isn’t there
monologue - long speech by an individual
ominous - menacing; threatening
outmoded - out of style
penetrated - pierced; affected; diffused
plunder - steal; take forcefully
precariously - placed dangerously
retrogression - movement backward; going from a better to worse state
reverie - dream-like state
wrought - shaped; made