Persian saddle-bags enormous leather bags laid across the backs of camels, behind the saddle; here, a number of them are stuffed and arranged together so that a person can lounge or recline on them.
blossoms of a laburnum a small, spreading tree with golden flowers and highly poisonous seeds.
the long tussore-silk curtains brown silk from India, usually stronger but more coarsely woven than Chinese silk.
straggling woodbine In the United States, woodbine is called wild honeysuckle and is sometimes referred to as Virginia creeper.
the bourdon note of a distant organ a bourdon note is an extremely low, droning note.
the Grosvenor For thirteen years, from 1877 to 1890, the Grosvenor Gallery was one of London's most prestigious galleries. During its heyday it often featured works from the Aesthetic movement, mentioned in Wilde's novel.
stars and garters a reference to various public decorations such as the Order of the Garter, England's highest order of knighthood.
précis French, meaning "brief summary."
salon French, meaning "living room" or "parlor"; here, it means a weekly or monthly gathering of artists and intellectuals.
tremulous vibrating or quivering.
ensconced settled securely or comfortably.
pallid abnormally pale.
truculent savage, belligerent.
skeins lengths of thread or yarn wound into long, loose coils.
languid lacking energy or spirit.
proletariat the poorest class of working people.
dowagers rich widows.
the Academy The Royal Academy of Arts in London, founded in 1768. Its annual exhibition, which has been held every summer without a break since 1769, features the best 1,500 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and engravings from those submitted for judging.
Oxford one of the two most revered British universities; the other is Cambridge.
He is a Narcissus a self-centered person who is exceedingly fond of his appearance.
I went to a crush a cocktail party.
She brought me up to royalties Here, the reference is to frequent dinners and parties with the titled upper class.
the East End the industrial or working class area of London, east of the banking and commercial section of London, referred to as "the City."
