- strokenounChapter 1 →
A sudden, severe medical event in the brain that can cause paralysis or death; in this context it refers to the third such attack suffered by the dying priest.
“There was no hope for him this time: it was the third stroke.”
- scrupulousadjectiveChapter 1 →
Excessively careful and anxious about doing everything exactly right, to the point where it becomes a burden rather than a virtue.
“He was too scrupulous always, she said. The duties of the priesthood was too much for him.”
- crossedadjectiveChapter 1 →
Thwarted or marked by misfortune; used here to suggest a life that was continually blocked or ruined by bad luck or some hidden trouble.
“And then his life was, you might say, crossed.”
- penitentadjectiveChapter 2 →
Feeling genuine sorrow or guilt for something wrong one has done or thought; sincerely sorry.
“And I was penitent; for in my heart I had always despised him a little.”
- magnetisedverbChapter 2 →
Held in a fixed, trance-like state of fascination, as if drawn by an invisible force and unable to break free.
“magnetised by some words of his own speech, his mind was slowly circling round and round in the same or…”
- chalicenounChapter 3 →
A ceremonial cup used in religious worship; here used metaphorically to suggest the boy carries his love like a sacred, fragile offering.
“I imagined that I bore my chalice safely through a throng of foes.”
- throngnounChapter 3 →
A large, densely packed crowd of people pressing together in a space.
“I imagined that I bore my chalice safely through a throng of foes.”
- deridedverbChapter 3 →
Mocked or laughed at with contempt; made to feel foolish and worthless by scorn.
“Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity.”
- vanitynounChapter 3 →
Excessive pride in oneself or one's desires; here, the futile self-importance that drove the boy's romantic quest and ended in humiliation.
“Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger.”
- notorietynounChapter 5 →
The state of being widely known, especially for something scandalous or impressive; fame that carries a slightly negative or dangerous edge.
“Rapid motion through space elates one; so does notoriety; so does the possession of money.”
- stupornounChapter 5 →
A state of near-unconsciousness or mental numbness, here brought on by drink, in which a person is barely aware of what is happening around them.
“he was glad of the rest, glad of the dark stupor that would cover up his folly.”
- leernounChapter 6 →
An unpleasant, knowing smile or expression that suggests slyness, vulgarity, or crude satisfaction.
“a straggling mouth which lay open in a contented leer, and two projecting front teeth.”
- cleavernounChapter 7 →
A heavy, broad-bladed knife used by butchers to chop through meat and bone; used here to convey ruthless, efficient decisiveness.
“She dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat.”
- being hadphraseChapter 7 →
Being tricked, manipulated, or taken advantage of; the feeling that someone is scheming against you for their own benefit.
“He had a notion that he was being had.”
- bequeathedverbChapter 8 →
Passed down or handed over something — here, a piece of wisdom — from one generation to the next, as if left in a will.
“this being the burden of wisdom which the ages had bequeathed to him unsolicited.”
- unsolicitedadjectiveChapter 8 →
Not asked for or requested; given or imposed without the recipient ever wanting or seeking it.
“this being the burden of wisdom which the ages had bequeathed to him unsolicited.”
- trifled withphraseChapter 8 →
Treated lightly or disrespectfully; taken less than seriously, as if the person or matter were of no real importance.
“He is a man of the world. He is not a man to be trifled with.”
- subterfugenounChapter 9 →
A small trick or deceptive scheme used to get something or avoid something; a cunning but underhanded manoeuvre.
“The man felt humiliated by the failure of his little subterfuge.”
- rectitudenounChapter 11 →
Strict moral correctness and uprightness in one's behaviour; here, the rigid, joyless virtue that Duffy has made the centre of his life.
“He gnawed the rectitude of his life; he felt that he had been outcast from life's feast.”
- outcastverbChapter 11 →
Excluded or banished from a group or from the warmth of ordinary human experience; cast out and left on the outside.
“He gnawed the rectitude of his life; he felt that he had been outcast from life's feast.”
- accompanistnounChapter 13 →
A musician, usually a pianist, who plays a supporting musical part alongside a singer or solo performer during a concert.
“Mr Holohan said that if she didn't make haste he would find another accompanist.”
- outmanoeuvredverbChapter 13 →
Defeated by a cleverer or more skilful strategy; beaten because the other side made better tactical moves.
“She had been outmanoeuvred.”
- reassumeverbChapter 14 →
To put something back on or take it up again after having set it aside; here, to put his hat back on his head.
“He felt his hat carefully and decided to reassume it.”
- conferringverbChapter 14 →
Granting or bestowing something as a gift or honour upon another person; giving a benefit or privilege to someone else.
“He was not unconscious of the favour he was conferring.”
- dismallyadverbChapter 15 →
In a dreary, depressing, and utterly joyless manner; bleakly and without any hope or brightness.
“Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age.”
DublinersNon-fiction by James Joyce