Persuasion: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Jane Austen uses again and again in Persuasion 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.
acquaintance/əˈkweɪntəns/61× in the book
This friend, and Sir Walter, did not marry, whatever might have been anticipated on that head by their acquaintance.
till/ˈtɪɫ/50× in the book
… and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen.
agreeable/əˈɡɹiəbəɫ/38× in the book
He was at that time a very young man, just engaged in the study of the law; and Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable, and every plan in his favour was confirmed.
oblige/əˈbɫaɪdʒ/38× in the book
But these measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient for the real extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged to confess to her soon afterwards.
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/36× in the book
Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, sensible and amiable; whose judgement and conduct, if they might be pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot, had never required indulgence afterwards.
acquaint/əˈkweɪnt/27× in the book
A name that I am so very well acquainted with; knew the gentleman so well by sight …
sensible/ˈsɛnsəbəɫ/27× in the book
… one very intimate friend, a sensible, deserving woman …
attachment/əˈtætʃmənt/27× in the book
His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment; since to them he must have owed a wife of very superior character to anything deserved by his own.
carriage/ˈkæɹɪdʒ/26× in the book
The last office of the four carriage-horses was to draw Sir Walter, Miss Elliot, and Mrs. Clay to Bath.
distress/dɪˈstɹɛs/26× in the book
Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting, and the rapid increase of the crow’s foot about Lady Russell’s temples had long been a distress to him.
delight/dɪˈɫaɪt/25× in the book
Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held in society.
regret/ɹəˈɡɹɛt/23× in the book
She had the remembrance of all this, she had the consciousness of being nine-and-twenty to give her some regrets and some apprehensions; she was fully satisfied of being still quite as handsome as ever …
honour/ˈɑnɝ/21× in the book
… for Mary had merely connected herself with an old country family of respectability and large fortune, and had therefore given all the honour and received none: Elizabeth would …
dispose/dɪˈspoʊz/19× in the book
There was only a small part of his estate that Sir Walter could dispose of; but had every acre been alienable, it would have made no difference.
charm/ˈtʃɑɹm/19× in the book
… if there has been neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a time of life at which scarcely any charm is lost.
favour/ˈfeɪvɝ/18× in the book
… on his own terms, and as a great favour, that he would let it at all.
agitation/ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/18× in the book
… and many a sigh, were necessary to dispel the agitation of the idea.
dine/ˈdaɪn/18× in the book
… that Mrs. Musgrove was very apt not to give her the precedence that was her due, when they dined at the Great House with other families; and she did not see any reason why she was to be considered so much at home as to lose her place.
tenant/ˈtɛnənt/18× in the book
Could not be a better time, Sir Walter, for having a choice of tenants, very responsible tenants.
humour/ˈhjumɝ/17× in the book
She had humoured, or softened …
curiosity/ˌkjʊɹiˈɑsəti/17× in the book
… but, except from some natural sensation of curiosity, he had no desire of meeting her again.
invitation/ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/17× in the book
This invitation of Mary’s removed all Lady Russell’s difficulties, and it was consequently soon settled that Anne should not go to Bath till Lady Russell took her …
vain/ˈveɪn/16× in the book
… but was hearing of it so often, that it became vain to attempt concealing it longer, even partially …
bless/ˈbɫɛs/16× in the book
He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot …
sentiment/ˈsɛnəmənt/16× in the book
… “never forgets who she is; and as I am rather better acquainted with her sentiments than you can be, I can assure you …
recollect/ˌɹɛkəˈɫɛkt/15× in the book
At this moment I cannot recollect his name, though I have heard it so lately.
countenance/ˈkaʊntənəns/15× in the book
Captain Harville was a tall, dark man, with a sensible, benevolent countenance; a little lame; and from strong features and want of health, looking much older than Captain Wentworth.
kindness/ˈkaɪndnəs/15× in the book
… in the village of Kellynch; and on her kindness and advice, Lady Elliot mainly relied for the best help and maintenance of the good principles and instruction which she had been anxiously giving her daughters.
enjoyment/ˌɛnˈdʒɔɪmənt/15× in the book
… as she travelled up to London with her father, for a few weeks’ annual enjoyment of the great world.
temper/ˈtɛmpɝ/15× in the book
He thought it a very degrading alliance; and Lady Russell, though with more tempered and pardonable pride, received it as a most unfortunate one.
neighbourhood/ˈneɪbɝˌhʊd/14× in the book
Thirteen winters’ revolving frosts had seen her opening every ball of credit which a scanty neighbourhood afforded, and thirteen springs shown their blossoms …
enquiry/ɪnˈkwaɪˌɹi/14× in the book
I have made no enquiries, because I concluded you must have been obliged to give up the party.”
ashamed/əˈʃeɪmd/14× in the book
She was ashamed of herself, quite ashamed of being so nervous …
interval/ˈɪntɝvəɫ/14× in the book
This very awkward history of Mr. Elliot was still, after an interval of several years, felt with anger by Elizabeth …
sensation/sɛnˈseɪʃən/14× in the book
She knew that when she played she was giving pleasure only to herself; but this was no new sensation.
instantly/ˈɪnstəntɫi/14× in the book
… and, instantly rising, said …
recollection/ˌɹɛkəˈɫɛkʃən/13× in the book
With all these circumstances, recollections and feelings, she could not hear that Captain Wentworth’s sister was likely to live at Kellynch without a revival of former pain …
compliment/ˈkɑmpɫəmɛnt/13× in the book
—reciprocal compliments, which would have been esteemed about equal.
mil/ˈmɪɫ/12× in the book
… still resident in Kellynch, and Mary fixed only three miles off, must be anticipated …
exertion/ɪɡˈzɝʃən/12× in the book
how eloquent, at least, were her wishes on the side of early warm attachment, and a cheerful confidence in futurity, against that overanxious caution which seems to insult exertion and distrust Providence!
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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