Much of the wordplay Goldsmith employs in She Stoops to Conquer takes the form of aptronyms—names that reveal the occupation or nature of the characters who bear them.For instance, the name of Miss Neville’s aunt, Aunt Pedigree, suggests that she has a higher status than the Hardcastles. Goldsmith also uses aptronyms for sheer humor. The name of the “lame dancing-master,” Cripplegate, is an example of Goldsmith being humorous for humor’s sake.
"Grumbletonian" is another play on words. Men who graduated from English private (public) schools such as Eton and universities like Oxford were called Etonians and Oxonians, respectively. Lumpkin has created a new word, modeled on established words, to describe his stepfather.
Goldsmith is making a play on words. Cripplegate is an area of London, and it may have gotten its name because of the numerous cripples who used to beg near the gate. Goldsmith's use of Cripplegate for the name of a "lame dancing-master" would have drawn a lot of laughs from the audience.
"Miss Rickets of Crooked Lane..."See in text(Act The Second)
A clever play on words—Goldsmith plays on the word Rickets, which would have reminded the audience of Rickets, a disease caused by the lack of Vitamin C, that causes arms and legs to become deformed (Crooked Lane).
"Diggory, whom I have taken from the barn..."See in text(Act The Second)
The name "Diggory" is another play on words. He has been taken promoted from yard work (digging) to serving in the home, a great step up in wages and status for a servant.
This may be a play on long horns, which could mean that Mrs. Langhorns is an American (comparing her to long-horn cattle from Texas). Among cultivated people in 18th century London, Americans were almost always considered the equivalent of country bumpkins.
"my aunt Pedigree's..."See in text(Act The Fourth)
The name suggests that this aunt is someone of relatively high social status, certainly higher than the Hardcastles, perhaps lesser nobility like a countess.
