The man of the world by Frank o’Connor glossary

grievance n something thought reason enough to complain: a cause for complaint or resentment that may or may not be well-founded

The town of Bantry is located near the head of Bantry Bay, inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, southwestern Ireland, county Cork. In 1689 and again in 1796 Bantry Bay was entered by French fleets in unsuccessful attempts to aid Irish insurrection.

wisha chiefly Irish used as an intensive or to express surprise

Immodesty n indecency; something likely to embarrass, offend, or shock people, especially because of open references to sexual matters or exposure of parts of the body that are normally covered

quarry n open area for mining: an open excavation from which stone or other material is extracted by blasting, cutting, or drilling

to perch v put in a high place: to situate something in a place high up

well-bred adj with good manners: possessing or displaying good manners or other marks of a good upbringing

softy n weak person: somebody who is weak, timid, or sentimental (informal)

sophisticated adj knowledgeable and cultured: knowledgeable about the ways of the world, self-confident, and not easily deceived

john n a toilet (informal)

bailiff n U.K. law sheriff’s officer: a legal officer who serves under a sheriff and is empowered to take possession of a debtor’s property, forcibly if necessary, to serve writs, and to make arrests

bang adv suddenly and unexpectedly

take in v deceive somebody: to deceive somebody by presenting a false appearance

gaslight n lamp fueled by gas: a lamp or fixture that produces light by burning gas

Illegible adj hard to read: impossible or very difficult to read

scribble v make meaningless markings: to write or draw meaningless or undecipherable marks on something

forgery n illegal copy: an illegal copy of something, for example, a document or painting, that has been made to look genuine

fossil n preserved remains of animal or plant: the remains of an animal or plant preserved from an earlier era inside a rock or other geological deposit, often as an impression or in a petrified state

Mass n Christian ceremony: in the Roman Catholic Church and some Protestant churches, the religious ceremony of the Communion

stained glass n colored glass often used in windows: glass that has been colored so that it can be used to make a mosaic picture, especially in a window. Stained glass may be made by enameling, burning pigments into the surface, or by fusing metallic oxides with it. (hyphenated when used before a noun)

flare n flame: a sudden or unsteady flame

breeding n upbringing: somebody’s upbringing, education, and training in manners and other social skills, especially an upbringing that produces polished manners and self-assurance

pillar n column used for support or decoration: a vertical column that is part of a building or other structure and can be either a support or decoration

good-humored adj cheerful: disposed to be cheerful and friendly, or reflecting such an attitude

lodge v live in somebody’s house: to live in somebody’s house, free or as a paying guest (dated) lodger n

chagrin n anger at being let down: a feeling of vexation or humiliation due to disappointment about something

stray n wander away: to leave the correct course or wander away from the correct place, often unintentionally

spot v see: to see or detect something suddenly

jet-black adj of a very dark black color