The Portrait of a Lady word meaning

The Portrait of a Lady

Word Meaning

Expressions

The thought was almost revolting - The thought that the author's grandmother was once young and pretty raises a doubt in the mind of the author. He finds it too hard to believe.

An expanse of pure white serenity - It refers to the calm, peaceful and serene character and conduct of the author's grandmother. She is compared to the peaceful winter landscape in the mountains.

Aturning-point - It refers to the point where the author's relationship with his grandmother changes drastically after they move to the city-house.

Accepted her seclusion with resignation This shows the author's grandmother's passive submission to her secluded life after she gradually loses touch with her grandson.

A veritable bedlam of chirruping - It refers to the noise, confusion and chaos caused by the chirruping of the sparrows that scattered and perched around the author's grandmother.

Frivolous rebukes - It refers to the casual and light-hearted rebukes of the grandmother to the sparrows.

Word Meaning

Wrinkled-having lines or folds

Portrait- painting or picture

Mantelpiece- a structure of wood, marble, or stone above and around a fireplace.

The thought was almost revolting- it was very hard for the author to believe

Revolting - unpleasant

Absurd- Illogical

Undignified- disrespectful

Fables- fictitious stories with a moral teaching

Prophets- saints

Criss-cross a pattern of intersecting straight lines.

Hobbled- walked in an awkward way

spotless white- she wore clean, white coloured dresses

an expanse of pure white serenity refers to 

--the calm, relaxed and peaceful character of the author's grandmother.

Contentment- a state of happiness and satisfaction

Monotonous- dull and boring

Bothered-to be concerned

Fetch- go for and then bring back something for someone

Slate- a flat plate of slate formerly used for writing on in schools

Plastered-covered with a layer of plaster

Earthen-made of baked or fired clay

Stale- no longer fresh and pleasant to eat; hard, musty, or dry.

Scriptures- the sacred writings of a religion

Growling- making a low guttural sound in the throat

Courtyard- verandah

Years rolled by-time passed

Distressed- suffer from extremely sorrow, anxiety or pain

Lewd Association- Indecent or Obscene

Harlots- Prostitutes

Gentlefolk- People of noble birth

Snapped- break suddenly and completely

Seclusion - the state of being private and away from the people

accepted her seclusion with resignation

- the grandmother accepted a lonely life as she accepted the separation from her grandson without objection

Spinning-wheel a household machine with a wheel attached to it for spinning yarn

A veritable bedlam of chirrupings refers to

- the noise and confusion caused by the chirrupings of the sparrows

Veritable- use to describe something which is very interesting or unusual

Bedlam- confusion

Chirrupings -the noise of a small bird

Perched- alight or rest on something

Shooed -make a person or animal go away by shouting or saying 'shoo'

Sentimental- a feeling of nostaglia, sadness or tenderness; an emotional feeling

Beads- a small piece of glass or stone threaded with others to make a rosary or necklace

Cherished- hold something dear

Moist-wet

Imprint-impression or stamp

Clasped- hold tightly

Frivolous- not having any serious purpose, light-hearted

Rebuke- disapproval of something or someone

frivolous rebukes -light hearted scoldings

Thumped-hit

Sagging- sinking downwards

Dilapidated- in a state of despair or ruin

the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum

- The loose surface of the worn out drum

Persuade- to talk someone into doing something, requeste

Overstraining- overdoing something

Omitted- leave out or exclude something

Protested- express an objection against something or someone

Pallor -an unhealthy pale appearance

Customary- traditional

Crude- in a natural state, roughly made

Cremated - dispose of or burn a body after it is dead

Blaze- a very large burning fire

Shroud - a piece of cloth used to wrap a dead person

Corpse - Dead body