Hello and welcome to an extensive list of all things vocabulary. This is not necessarily anything that was said at Luke's, but instead any/all of the miscellaneous definitions that didn't fit into any of our other categories. Kind of the more boring side of things, but still interesting or helpful if you're unfamiliar with a certain term.
jump to: rodeo • symphony fundraising committee • overzealous • 4.0 grade average • journalism • political science • lobster puffs • dixie chick • big sister • the curve • bulimia • pregnancy • balance bar • i.v. • sadist • fiend • newfangled • daunting • valedictorian • domain • panasonic • p.t.a. • hectic • gnome • dsl • adroitness • christendom • christian nobility • triple caps, easy foam • tweedy • goody-goody • slut • cult • tofu • french braid
Rodeo
Being from Texas, what Lorelai comes down the stairs wearing would not be frowned upon here. While I personally wouldn’t wear that to my daughter’s (if I had one) first day at fancy private school meeting with the headmaster dude, I wouldn’t doubt that some would here. Anyways, Rory makes a crack at her saying she didn’t know the rodeo was in town. If you’ve never heard of a rodeo, it’s just a competitive sporting event based on cattle herding, testing skills in horse riding and handling livestock. The word rodeo (Spanish for “round up”) comes from Latin America and was adopted by North American cowboys in the 19th century. Rodeos are particularly popular in the American west, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. I can’t stand them because I always feel sorry for the little calves. But again. Being from Texas, can’t really escape them.
Symphony fundraising committee
Of courseeeee Emily and the headmaster’s wife are on the symphony fundraising committee together. Why else would she be there? The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is one of America’s leading regional orchestras, performing more than 200 times each year. It raises funds through subscriptions and donations, and by hosting special events.
Overzealous
Is it hot in here, or is it just Headmaster Charleston’s overzealous furnace? This is an adjective that means something, or someone is too enthusiastic and/or eager. In other words, that furnace needs to calm the heck down.
4.0 grade average
Our perfect girl with a perfect grade point average. It means that Rory’s average overall letter grade in school is an A, and her overall grade as a percentage is over 90%. In other words, she’s a straight A student.
Journalism
A noun used to describe the activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, or news websites or preparing news to be broadcast. It is one of two majors Rory is interested in. Of note, Harvard doesn’t have an undergraduate degree in Journalism, but Rory might have been planning to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies, focusing on Government, and then getting a Master of Liberal Arts in Journalism.
Political Science
The second of two majors Rory is interested in. It’s a noun describing the branch of knowledge that deals with systems of government; the analysis of political activity and behavior. Of note, Harvard doesn’t have an undergraduate degree in Political Science, but Rory might have been planning to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies, focusing on Government, and then getting a Master of Liberal Arts in Journalism.
Lobster puffs
You all are on your own for this. I despise any type, shape, or form of seafood. I’ll give you the definition and that’s it. It’s an appetizer of creamy lobster filling inside a choux pastry shell (like a cream puff with lobster inside instead of custard). It has a particular connection to the New England region where Gilmore Girls is set.
Dixie chick
Yee-haw y’all! This refers to The Dixie Chicks, who are a country music band from Texas consisting of sisters Martie Maguire, Emily Robison, and Natalie Maines. Their first album was released in 1990, and they achieved commercial success with Wide Open Spaces in 1998, when they sold more CDs than all other country music groups combined.
Big sister
When Louise jokes that Paris should be like a big sister to Rory, this is a possible allusion to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, an organization where children are matched with an older mentor to encourage them both educationally and socially.
The curve
Alright so hopefully Rory attending Chilton won’t screw up the curve, but we’ll see. Some schools grade on a curve, meaning that the performance of the group overall is taken into account when assigning grades. In its most extreme form, grades are assigned based on a student’s rank in class, placing students in direct competition with each other. Chilton obviously grades on a curve, fostering a highly competitive environment. Paris is concerned that Rory joining the class, with her excellent academic results, may affect her own grades. (P.S.- I hate when schools grade on curves).
Bulimia
Medical definition time! Chilton’s counselor, Mr. Winters, doesn’t handle this though. It’s a serious eating disorder marked by binging, followed by methods to avoid weight gain. It is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder. People with this condition binge eat. They then take steps to avoid weight gain. Most commonly, this means vomiting (purging). But it can also mean excessive exercising or fasting. Treatments include counseling, medications, and nutrition education.
Pregnancy
I guess Mr. Winters, the school counselor, doesn’t really counsel pregnancy. If you don’t know what pregnancy is, it’s the term used to describe the period of which a fetus develops inside a woman’s womb or uterus. It usually lasts about 40 weeks, or just over 9 months, as measured from the last menstrual period to delivery. I can’t imagine a pregnant Chilton student being able to stay enrolled, especially during this time period. Maybe in today’s world.
Balance Bar
Oh Luke. Always trying to mess with Lorelai’s coffee addiction. This time with a Balance Bar, which is the brand name of a nutritional energy bar, first released in 1992, and adhering to the principles of the Zone Diet expounded by Dr. Barry Sears. It is based on the 40-30-30 dietary principle, that is, a diet containing 40& carbohydrate, 30% protein and 30% dietary fat. In 2000, the company was bought by Kraft Foods.
I.V.
Hey, more medical things! Side note: I hate putting IV’s in. Especially on small-veined people. (not hating on small-veined people because hey, even I’m small-veined. It’s just the hardest thing ever to try and stick a whole needle + cannula through them). Anyways, IV, or IV therapy, stands for intravenous therapy which is a therapy that delivers fluids directly into a vein. The intravenous route of administration can be used both for injections, using a syringe at higher pressures, as well as for infusions, typically using only the pressure supplied by gravity. IV therapy is the delivery of fluids, blood, or medication directly into a patient’s system through the veins.
Sadist
This is a person who takes pleasure in inflicting pain, punishment, or humiliation on others, such as Luke who almost tricked Lorelai into thinking there wasn’t any coffee.
(pictures were too weird for this one)
Fiend
A noun describing an evil spirit or demon; a wicked or cruel person. You know what’s cruel and wicked? Saying there’s no coffee when there actually is some. Luke.
(same with this one. scary pics on google. 12/10 do not recommend)
Newfangled
Context clues probably helped you figure this one out but just in case, here’s a short definition. An adjective that means something is different from what one is used to; objectionably new.
Daunting
Rory’s teacher advises her to get someone else’s notes in addition to the world’s largest “overview” material binder. He sounds somewhat apologetic as he tells her that he knows it may seem daunting right now. This is an adjective that means “seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating.”
Valedictorian
What Paris is determined to be. It’s a noun describing a student usually having the highest rank in a graduating class who delivers the valedictory address at the commencement exercises.
Domain
An area of territory owned or controlled by a ruler or government. AKA Paris. (not the city).
Panasonic
If I’m being completely honest, I’m glad the show didn’t keep Drella, the harpist. It was too much, I think. Drella snaps at Lorelai for asking to play the harp a little softer. Panasonic Corporation, formerly known as the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., founded in 1918 as a lightbulb socket manufacturer, is a major Japanese multinational electronics company, headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka. Drella is saying that she’s not a stereo whose music can be turned up and down at someone’s instant command.
P.T.A.
Lorelai can’t date anyone not on the PTA. Not gonna spoil, but interesting foreshadow, wouldn’t you say? The Parent-Teacher Association, better known at the PTA, is an organization of parents and staff which promotes parental involvement in the school.
Hectic
Just a plain old adjective here that means characterized by activity, excitement, or confusion. Usually for me, hectic = busy.
Gnome
I don’t know if you guys ever played Sims when you were younger (I still like to build houses on it sometimes), but the gnomes on that game move around at night on their own (or at least I know they did in the third game; not sure about the fourth because I refused to get any), and ever since then, gnomes have freaked me out. They are a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature. It is often a small garden ornament in the form of a bearded man with a pointed hat.
DSL
This stands for Digital Subscriber Line and is a family of technologies that are used to transmit digital data over telephone lines. In telecommunications marketing, the term DSL is widely understood to mean asymmetric digital subscriber line, the most commonly installed DSL technology, for internet access. Wi-fi is more common these days.
Adroitness
Personally, I didn’t even know this word existed before now and also, I find it slightly hard to pronounce. It’s a noun that means cleverness or skill; expertise. The more you know.
Christendom
This is the worldwide body or society of Christians; the Christian world. Sounds like a cool club name.
Christian nobility
Refers to Martin Luther’s To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation written in 1520 which advocated for a break away from the Catholic church.
Triple caps, easy foam
Lorelai has bought herself and Rory two cappuccinos made with three shots of espresso (triple strength), lightly foamed on top. I could go for one of those right about now.
Tweedy
Growing up in the late 1990s/early 2000s, the only tweedy I know is a yellow bird (it’s spelled Tweety, but I’m from the south and t’s = d’s). In this scenario, it’s an adjective and it means accustomed to, preferring, or characterized by the wearing of tweeds (a coarse wool cloth in a variety of weaves and colors, either hand-spun and handwoven in Scotland or reproduced, often by machine, elsewhere), as in genteel country life or academia. Sounds like Rory’s uniforms.
Goody-goody
A noun. A person who is self-righteously, affectedly, or cloyingly good. A Rory.
Slut
So… Lorelai? Kidding, kidding. Kind of. I just get mad that she leads who know who on for the LONGEST time (cough 4 seasons). UGH. Anyways… It’s a careless, dirty, slovenly woman and I truly and wholeheartedly believe that Lorelai would proudly wear that as a t-shirt.
Cult
A noun meaning a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies. It’s what Lane and Rory should join while Lorelai is taking her business class in Hartford. Minus the whole head-shaving bit.
Tofu
Also known as bean curd, is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness; it can be silken, soft, firm, or extra firm. Beyond these broad categories, there are many varieties of tofu. All of which, I’ll pass.
French-braid
A section of hair which begins from the crown of the head, making a more elaborate braid with a sophisticated look. The French themselves identify the braid as African in origin, as the style is earliest known in North Africa. (so… essentially African braid? France, explain yourselves).
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