Vocabulary in The Gift of the Magi

Extreme unwillingness to spend money; stinginess taken to an almost painful degree. Here it describes the miserly, cautious way every penny has been saved.

Brings about or sets something in motion, often used of a cause that triggers a chain of events. In this story it refers to what first sets off the action.

A small entrance hall or lobby just inside the front door of a building, acting as a buffer between outside and the main rooms.

To lose value or worth over time. Here it is used to describe how something precious might be considered less worthy by comparison.

Greatly desired, especially something belonging to someone else or something one has longed for intensely over a long period.

Falsely attractive; having a showy, cheap appeal that is superficially pleasing but ultimately without real value or worth.

The severe and destructive effects caused by something, such as time or hardship, that leaves lasting damage or deterioration in its wake.

Quick and light in movement or action; agile and deft, especially with the hands or fingers when performing a delicate task.

A small ornamental attachment or chain connected to a pocket watch, used to pull it from the pocket and often decorative in nature.

A large, flowing mass of something falling or hanging loosely downward, here used to describe long hair falling in a rippling, waterfall-like wave.

Simple and unadorned in design; restrained and pure in style without unnecessary decoration or ornamentation.

Close, careful, and critical examination or inspection of something, looking at every detail with great attention.

Of little or no importance; too trivial or minor to matter or have any meaningful effect on a situation.

The wise men from the East in the biblical Christmas story who brought gifts to the infant Jesus; used here as a symbol of the origin of the tradition of giving gifts.

An accusation or suggestion that someone is guilty of something, or the attribution of a fault or wrongdoing to a person.