The Albany Ernest Worthing’s address on his calling cards was actually the home of George Ives, a friend of Wilde’s and an activist for homosexual rights.

Anabaptists a religious group that believes the only form of baptism should be complete immersion of the body in water.

Army Lists published lists of commissioned officers in the British Army.

“As a man sows, so let him reap.” This is a verse from the Bible, Galatians 6:7, meaning that actions determine fate.

Belgrave Square another affluent London area in Belgravia.

Bunbury the name of a school friend of Wilde’s. Here, someone who deceives.

canonical practice church law.

corrupt French Drama possibly a reference to the plays of Alexander Dumas in the 1850s.

Court Guides an annual reference manual listing the names and addresses of members of the upper class and aristocracy.

Divorce Court Before 1857, divorces could only be granted by Parliament at great expense, and they rarely happened. In 1857, Divorce Court was passed by Parliament, making divorce easier.

effeminate having the qualities generally attributed to women, such as weakness, timidity, delicacy and so on; unmanly; not virile.

effrontery unashamed boldness.

egeria chastity. Egeri, a nymph, gave wise laws to Numa Pompilius of Rome that were used for the vestal virgins.

The Empire a theatre in Leicester Square, London.

Evensong a Sunday evening religious service.

Funds government stocks that give a low yield of interest but are conservative and safe.

German skepticism a German philosophy that examines style or appearance rather than substance.

Grosvenor Square a very affluent area of London in the Mayfair district.

Half Moon Street a very fashionable street in London’s West End; its location is handy to gentlemen’s clubs, restaurants and theatres.

Liberal Unionist a political group that voted against Home Rule for Ireland in 1886. Liberals were the conservative political group.

lorgnette a pair of eyeglasses attached to a handle.

machinations an artful or secret plot or scheme.

the Morning Post a newspaper read by the upper class because of its reporting on engagements, marriages and social gossip.

Mudie a lending library.

“only eighteen” Cecily is the precise age to “come out” as a Society debutante. During the Season, 18-year-olds were introduced as marriage material for suitable men.

Oxonian someone who graduated from Oxford University.

perambulator (chiefly British) a baby carriage; buggy.

pew-opener a person who works for a church by opening the private pews of the wealthy.

the Primitive Church the pre-Reformation Catholic Church, whose priest remained celibate.

The Railway Guide an indispensable timetable of railway departures and arrivals, probably invented by Robert Diggles Kay in either 1838 or 1839.

“a restraining influence” the presence of servants that causes the principal characters to be careful in their speech.

sent down to act as a lady’s escort for dinner.

sententiously full of, or fond of using, maxims, proverbs and so on, especially in a way that is ponderously trite and moralizing.

“Shropshire is your county” a reference to Jack Worthing’s position as county magistrate.

“slight refreshment at five o’clock” known as light tea, served to people who visit at this time of day.

Temperance beverage a drink that expressly does not contain alcohol.

terminus (British)either the end of a transportation line, or a station or town located there; terminal.

three-volume novels Lending libraries circulated novels in three parts so that three different readers could be reading at the same time. This practice ended in the late 1800s.

Tories members of the more conservative political circles. Lady Bracknell and other wealthy socialites would approve.

Tunbridge Wells a fashionable resort in Kent.

University Extension Scheme The University of London began these extension courses that were early developments in adult education.

womanthrope a humorous word made up by Miss Prism for a person who hates women.