Vocabulary
Stoppard’s love of and gift for language is on full display in Travesties. In addition to the many references to historical events, artistic movements, and literary figures that permeate the play (see the Glossary for an overview), Stoppard also peppers the script with a delightful and erudite vocabulary. The artists on the production have had a great time expanding their linguistic repertoire with many of the words from the play. Some of our favorites are listed below.
A
anaemic, or anemic: weak , bloodless, lacking spirit
appellation: a name or title by which someone is known
ascetic: austere/monkish
astigmatic: a defect in the eye causing blurry vision
au fait: well-informed, expert
B
bellicosity: readiness to fight
boater: a kind of men's formal summer hat
Boche: offensive term for a German, especially a soldier; pronounced the same as bosh, meaning nonsense
bona fide: legitimate, genuine
c
capriciously: impulsively
censoriously: disapprovingly
chronometry: the study of the accurate measurement of time
Cognoscenti: connoisseurs of the arts
conjunctivitis: inflammation of the conjunctiva also known as pink-eye
conscripted: put into military use
contiguously: alongside
contraposed: separated into opposing groups
convivial: festive/merry
cravenly: so lacking in courage as to be worthy of contempt
D
damask: patterned fabric
delectates: delights/produces
détente: a relaxation of tension or hostility between countries
disequilibrium: imbalance
E
entente: a state of friendly agreement between two or more countries
F
fretwork: ornamental woodwork
frogging: a type of decorative braiding/trim on a jacket
fust: become moldy
G
garrulity: excessive or pointless talkativeness
gnomic: characterized by the expression of pithy moral sentiments
H
Hun: derogatory German nickname
I
incipient: emerging
insuperable: insurmountable
interlocutor: one who takes part in a conversation or dialogue
J
jeweled escapements: jeweled watch and clock parts
L
lackeys: those who are excessively willing to obey
lickspittle: toady; someone who shows undue deference toward social superiors
M
micturition: urination
P
pacific: calm, avoiding force
pedant: somebody who displays his or her knowledge ostentatiously
perfidy: treachery or deceit
philistine: Someone with no feeling for the arts; one regarded as being ignorant, uncultured, and indifferent or hostile to artistic and intellectual achievement.
pilgrim cameras: tourist cameras
poncey: ostentatious or effeminate
profligate: extravagant
proscribed: prohibited
R
rapacity: greediness
recumbent: reclining, more or less horizontal
redolent: suggesting
S
sacerdotal: priest-like
salver: serving tray
sine qua non: something essential
sophistries: deceptive reasoning or excuses
sponging: always borrowing money
spurious: false or counterfeit
supercilious: arrogant
T
travesty: An exaggerated or grotesque imitation, as in a literary work (parody) or court case (travesty of justice)
V
vouchsafe: condescend to grant; be graciously willing to tell
W
wight: man
