Jane Eyre: An Autobiography: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Charlotte Brontë uses again and again in Jane Eyre: An Autobiography 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.
till/ˈtɪɫ/108× in the book
“Abbot and Bessie, I believe I gave orders that Jane Eyre should be left in the red-room till I came to her myself.”
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/47× in the book
exclaimed Abbot.
scarcely/ˈskɛɹsɫi/42× in the book
was my scarcely voluntary demand.
governess/ˈɡəvɝnəs/41× in the book
… she had stood me in the stead of mother, governess, and …
calm/ˈkɑɫm/41× in the book
… in fact, my racked nerves were now in such a state that no calm could soothe, and no pleasure excite them agreeably.
delight/dɪˈɫaɪt/39× in the book
Her beauty, her pink cheeks and golden curls, seemed to give delight to all who looked at her, and to purchase indemnity for every fault.
amongst/əˈməŋst/38× in the book
I cannot tell; but I think if some of those amongst whom he hurls the Greek fire of his sarcasm, and over whom he flashes the levin-brand of his denunciation …
pupil/ˈpjupəɫ/38× in the book
“Humility is a Christian grace, and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood; I, therefore, direct that especial care shall be bestowed on its cultivation amongst them.
charm/ˈtʃɑɹm/38× in the book
… when this cherished volume was now placed in my hand—when I turned over its leaves, and sought in its marvellous pictures the charm I had, till now …
utter/ˈətɝ/36× in the book
… dared me in an emphatic voice to rise from that place, or utter one syllable during the remainder of the day.
inquire/ˌɪnˈkwaɪɹ/36× in the book
She inquired how long they had been dead: then how old I was …
brow/ˈbɹaʊ/36× in the book
… turned his head slowly towards where I stood, and having examined me with the two inquisitive-looking grey eyes which twinkled under a pair of bushy brows, said solemnly …
curl/ˈkɝɫ/34× in the book
“Little darling!—with her long curls and her blue eyes, and such a sweet colour as she has; just as if she were painted!—Bessie, I could fancy a Welsh rabbit for supper.”
schoolroom/ˈskuɫˌɹum/33× in the book
Overpowered by this time with weariness, I scarcely noticed what sort of a place the bedroom was, except that, like the schoolroom, I saw it was very long.
morrow/ˈmɑɹoʊ/32× in the book
It was the hour of study; they were engaged in conning over their to-morrow’s task, and the hum I had heard was the combined result of their whispered repetitions.
countenance/ˈkaʊntənəns/31× in the book
The first was a tall lady with dark hair, dark eyes, and a pale and large forehead; her figure was partly enveloped in a shawl, her countenance was grave, her bearing erect.
dread/ˈdɹɛd/31× in the book
… I knew he would soon strike, and while dreading the blow, I mused on the disgusting and ugly appearance of him who would presently deal it.
pity/ˈpɪti/31× in the book
… or elicit from the gloom some haloed face, bending over me with strange pity.
carriage/ˈkæɹɪdʒ/31× in the book
Georgiana, who had a spoiled temper, a very acrid spite, a captious and insolent carriage, was universally indulged.
mistress/ˈmɪstɹəs/30× in the book
“Is that your mistress, nurse?”
mama/ˈmɑmə/30× in the book
… John, and Georgiana were now clustered round their mama in the drawing-room: she lay reclined on a sofa by the fireside …
affection/əˈfɛkʃən/30× in the book
John had not much affection for his mother and sisters, and an antipathy to me.
hearth/ˈhɑɹθ/29× in the book
Next day, by noon, I was up and dressed, and sat wrapped in a shawl by the nursery hearth.
murmur/ˈmɝmɝ/29× in the book
“I will indeed send her to school soon,” murmured Mrs. Reed sotto voce; and gathering up her work, she abruptly quitted the apartment.
nursery/ˈnɝsɝi/29× in the book
This room was chill, because it seldom had a fire; it was silent, because remote from the nursery and kitchen; solemn, because it was known to be so seldom entered.
fancy/ˈfænsi/29× in the book
It puzzles me now to remember with what absurd sincerity I doated on this little toy, half fancying it alive and capable of sensation.
parlour/ˈpɑɹɫɝ/28× in the book
I feared to return to the nursery, and feared to go forward to the parlour; ten minutes I stood in agitated hesitation …
fasten/ˈfæsən/28× in the book
He fastened the car door, climbed to his own seat outside, and we set off.
upstairs/əpˈstɛɹz/28× in the book
Aid was near him: Eliza and Georgiana had run for Mrs. Reed, who was gone upstairs: she now came upon the scene, followed by Bessie and her maid Abbot.
bonnet/ˈbɑnət/27× in the book
… full of splendid shreds of silk and satin, and began making a new bonnet for Georgiana’s doll.
grey/ˈɡɹeɪ/27× in the book
Up where the moors spread and grey rocks are piled?
mil/ˈmɪɫ/26× in the book
“Fifty miles.”
presently/ˈpɹɛzəntɫi/26× in the book
… and while dreading the blow, I mused on the disgusting and ugly appearance of him who would presently deal it.
summon/ˈsəmən/26× in the book
… Bessie was gone down to breakfast; my cousins had not yet been summoned to their mama; Eliza was putting on her bonnet and warm garden-coat to go and feed her poultry …
obey/oʊˈbeɪ/26× in the book
… never was I happy in her presence; however carefully I obeyed, however strenuously I strove to please her …
interval/ˈɪntɝvəɫ/26× in the book
At intervals, while turning over the leaves of my book, I studied the aspect of that winter afternoon.
descend/dɪˈsɛnd/26× in the book
I slowly descended.
stern/ˈstɝn/25× in the book
He had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow; his eyes and gathered eyebrows looked ireful and thwarted just now …
cloak/ˈkɫoʊk/25× in the book
Each put on a coarse straw bonnet, with strings of coloured calico, and a cloak of grey frieze.
fetch/ˈfɛtʃ/25× in the book
I returned to the window and fetched it thence.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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