Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Regions of the World: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Jonathan Swift uses again and again in Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Regions of the World 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.
majesty/ˈmædʒəsti/130× in the book
The Author sent for to court—The queen buys him of his master the farmer, and presents him to the king—He disputes with his majesty's great scholars—An apartment at court provided for the Author—He is in high favor with the queen—He stands up for the honor of his own country—He quarrels with the queen's dwarf
emperor/ˈɛmpɝɝ/86× in the book
The emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the nobility …
cent/ˈsɛnt/68× in the book
[45] Pistoles: about three dollars and sixty cents.
queen/ˈkwin/51× in the book
Several contrivances of the Author to please the king and queen—He shows his skill in music—The king inquires into the state of Europe, which the Author relates to him—The king's observations thereon
till/ˈtɪɫ/40× in the book
We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues, till we were able to work no longer, being already spent with labor, while we were in the ship.
kingdom/ˈkɪŋdəm/31× in the book
… there stood an ancient temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom, which …
prince/ˈpɹɪns/30× in the book
This resolution, perhaps, may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe, on the like occasion.
inch/ˈɪntʃ/28× in the book
… I perceived it to be a human creature, not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands …
imperial/ˌɪmˈpɪɹiəɫ/28× in the book
After some time, when they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty.
fasten/ˈfæsən/25× in the book
… for as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair …
royal/ˈɹɔɪəɫ/25× in the book
The horses of the army, and those of the royal stables, having been daily led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting.
wherein/hwɛˈɹɪn/23× in the book
… as well as learning their language, wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory.
sail/ˈseɪɫ/22× in the book
… I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master of the "Antelope," who was making a voyage to the South Sea.[5] We set sail from Bristol, May 4 …
wholly/ˈhoʊɫi/21× in the book
… though very well trained, yet wholly unused to such a sight, which appeared as if a mountain moved before him …
empire/ˈɛmpaɪɝ/21× in the book
… described, together with the emperor's palace—A conversation between the Author and a principal secretary concerning the affairs of that empire—The Author's offers to serve the emperor in his wars.
palace/ˈpæɫəs/20× in the book
The country described—A proposal for correcting modern maps—The king's palace, and some account of the metropolis—The Author's way of travelling—The chief temple described
whereof19× in the book
… and taller than any of the other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger …
conceive/kənˈsiv/19× in the book
… and marked with black figures; which we humbly conceive to be writings, every letter almost half as large as the palm of our hands.
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/18× in the book
… and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground.
likewise/ˈɫaɪˌkwaɪz/18× in the book
The author of these travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate friend; there is likewise some relation between us on the mother's side.
fleet/ˈfɫit/18× in the book
He shall be our ally against our enemies in the island of Blefuscu, and do his utmost to destroy their fleet, which is now preparing to invade us.
prodigious/pɹəˈdɪdʒəs/17× in the book
… while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a creature, as I must appear to them.
arrow/ˈæɹoʊ/17× in the book
… not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back.
forbear15× in the book
And I was privately assured that the empress, conceiving the greatest abhorrence of me, and, in the presence of her chief confidants, could not forbear vowing revenge.
mil/ˈmɪɫ/15× in the book
… which was half an hour's riding, about two-and-twenty miles from our house.
inhabitant/ɪnˈhæbətənt/15× in the book
Of the inhabitants of Lilliput; their learning, laws, and customs; the manner of educating their children—The Author's way of living in that country—His vindication of a great lady.
oblige/əˈbɫaɪdʒ/14× in the book
Within each of these was enclosed a prodigious plate of steel, which, by our orders, we obliged him to show us, because we apprehended they might be dangerous engines.
divert/daɪˈvɝt/14× in the book
The Author diverts the emperor, and his nobility of both sexes, in a very uncommon manner—The diversions of the court of Lilliput described—The Author has his liberty granted him upon certain conditions.
entertain/ˌɛnɝˈteɪn/14× in the book
When I found myself on my feet, I looked about me, and must confess I never beheld a more entertaining prospect.
metropolis/məˈtɹɑpəɫəs/13× in the book
Mildendo, the metropolis of Lilliput, described …
apprehend/ˌæpɹɪˈhɛnd/13× in the book
They apprehended my breaking loose; that my diet would be very expensive, and might cause a famine.
handkerchief/ˈhæŋkɝtʃif/13× in the book
… my comb and silver snuffbox, my handkerchief and journal-book.
voyage/ˈvɔɪədʒ/13× in the book
… with whom I continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two into the Levant,[3] and some other parts.
curiosity/ˌkjʊɹiˈɑsəti/13× in the book
… I alone am answerable for them, and if any traveller hath a curiosity to see the whole work at large, as it came from the hand of the author …
bigness/ˈbɪɡnəs/12× in the book
I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the bigness of musket bullets.
empress/ˈɛmpɹɛs/12× in the book
The empress and young princes of the blood of both sexes, attended by many ladies …
conjecture/kənˈdʒɛkʃɝ/12× in the book
The declivity was so small that I walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured was about eight o'clock in the evening.
monarch/ˈmɑˌnɑɹk/12× in the book
These civil commotions were constantly fomented by the monarchs of Blefuscu; and when they were quelled, the exiles always fled for refuge to that empire.
diversion/daɪˈvɝʒən/12× in the book
This diversion is only practised by those persons who are candidates for great employments and high favor at court.
delight/dɪˈɫaɪt/12× in the book
They cannot comprehend the occasion which provoked the book nor appreciate the satire which underlies the narrative, but they delight in the wonderful adventures, and wander full of open-eyed astonishment into the new worlds through which the vivid and logically accurate imagination of the author so personally conducts them.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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