A Room with a View: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words E. M. Forster uses again and again in A Room with a View that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/31× in the book
Lucy, who had not yet acquired decency, at once rose to her feet, exclaiming: “Oh, oh!
carriage/ˈkæɹɪdʒ/29× in the book
“That will mean another carriage.”
clergyman/ˈkɫɝdʒiˌmæn/28× in the book
The curtains at the end of the room parted, and revealed a clergyman, stout but attractive, who hurried forward to take his place at the table, cheerfully apologizing for his lateness.
till/ˈtɪɫ/25× in the book
Generally at a pension people looked them over for a day or two before speaking, and often did not find out that they would “do” till they had gone.
dreadful/ˈdɹɛdfəɫ/24× in the book
It is so dreadful for Charlotte, being poor.”
clever/ˈkɫɛvɝ/24× in the book
“That lady looks so clever,” whispered Miss Bartlett to her cousin.
murmur/ˈmɝmɝ/19× in the book
“Of course,” said the little old lady; and they murmured that one could not be too careful with a young girl.
silly/ˈsɪɫi/19× in the book
“How silly of them!”
muddle/ˈmədəɫ/17× in the book
You are inclined to get muddled, if I may judge from last night.
violet/ˈvaɪəɫɪt/16× in the book
“I consider that you are bound to class him as nice, Miss Alan, after that business of the violets.”
maid/ˈmeɪd/16× in the book
A dear friend of mine, Contessa Baroncelli, has two daughters, and when she cannot send a maid to school with them, she lets them go in sailor-hats instead.
despise/dɪˈspaɪz/15× in the book
In her chastened mood she no longer despised the Emersons.
glorious/ˈɡɫɔɹiəs/15× in the book
… not the innocence of childhood, nor the glorious bewilderment of youth, but the conscious achievements of maturity.
villa/ˈvɪɫə/14× in the book
… some in furnished flats, others in Renaissance villas on Fiesole’s slope, they read …
bathe/ˈbeɪð/14× in the book
Then Freddy used to bathe there.
kindly/ˈkaɪndɫi/13× in the book
Would you then, Mr. Beebe, kindly tell Mr. Emerson that I accept his kind offer, and then conduct him to me, in order that I may thank him personally?”
chaplain/ˈtʃæpɫən/13× in the book
“Ah, not for me,” said the chaplain blandly, “for I have been watching you and Miss Honeychurch for quite a little time.”
delightful/dɪˈɫaɪtfəɫ/13× in the book
How delightful a view is!”
annoyed/əˈnɔɪd/13× in the book
Charlotte was most annoyed at finding me practically alone, and so I couldn’t help being a little annoyed with Miss Lavish.”
frighten/ˈfɹaɪtən/13× in the book
“Here’s a mess: a baby hurt, cold, and frightened!
charm/ˈtʃɑɹm/13× in the book
I am lucky to be appointed to such a charming neighbourhood.”
tiresome/ˈtaɪɝsəm/12× in the book
“I think he is; nice and tiresome.
gossip/ˈɡɑsəp/12× in the book
Those gossiping little Miss Alans must have—” She checked herself.
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/12× in the book
he asked the vicar afterwards.
splendid/ˈspɫɛndɪd/11× in the book
I’m thoroughly happy, and having a splendid time.
kindness/ˈkaɪndnəs/11× in the book
It would be hard indeed if I stopped you doing as you liked at Florence, when I am only here through your kindness.
neighbourhood/ˈneɪbɝˌhʊd/10× in the book
There will be a deal of local colouring, descriptions of Florence and the neighbourhood, and I shall also introduce some humorous characters.
shilling/ˈʃɪɫɪŋ/10× in the book
Five shillings, and I gave a bob to the driver.”
dislike/dɪˈsɫaɪk/10× in the book
She had refused, not because she disliked him, but because she did not know what had happened, and suspected that he did know.
spoil/ˈspɔɪɫ/10× in the book
“Charlotte, you mustn’t spoil me: of course, you must look over the Arno, too.
nonsense/ˈnɑnsɛns/10× in the book
And as it is, the glass over our front door was broken last election, and Freddy is sure it was the Tories; but mother says nonsense, a tramp.”
flush/ˈfɫəʃ/10× in the book
“Very well, dear,” said Miss Bartlett, with a faint flush of pleasure that called forth a deep flush of shame on the cheeks of Lucy.
roar/ˈɹɔɹ/10× in the book
Each time that old Mr. Emerson and Lucy set it erect it collapsed with a roar.
pin/ˈpɪn/10× in the book
It was then that she saw, pinned up over the washstand, a sheet of paper on which was scrawled an enormous note of interrogation.
bow/ˈbaʊ/10× in the book
Mr. Beebe bowed.
descend/dɪˈsɛnd/10× in the book
She descended slowly into the Piazza with the intention of rejoining Miss Lavish, who was really almost too original.
saint/ˈseɪnt/9× in the book
Then Lucy realized that they had mistaken Machiavelli for some saint, hoping to acquire virtue.
rubbish/ˈɹəbɪʃ/9× in the book
He repeated any rubbish that came into his head.
vulgar/ˈvəɫɡɝ/9× in the book
… he knows that I am a resident perfectly well, and yet he goes on worrying me to buy his vulgar views.”
behaviour/bɪˈheɪvjɝ/9× in the book
“I mean, would you not mention it to any one, my foolish behaviour?”
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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