Pride and Prejudice: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Jane Austen uses again and again in Pride and Prejudice 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/89× in the book
… though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it.
aunt/ˈænt/85× in the book
… who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt and to a milliner’s shop just over the way.
acquaintance/əˈkweɪntəns/63× in the book
A fortnight’s acquaintance is certainly very little.
affection/əˈfɛkʃən/62× in the book
If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him …
behaviour/bɪˈheɪvjɝ/55× in the book
Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters.
delight/dɪˈɫaɪt/51× in the book
… that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas …
civility/səˈvɪɫəti/49× in the book
“You may depend upon it, Madam,” said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, “that Miss Bennet shall receive every possible attention while she remains with us.”
agreeable/əˈɡɹiəbəɫ/45× in the book
He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party.
honour/ˈɑnɝ/44× in the book
“I honour your circumspection.
endeavour/ɪnˈdɛvɝ/43× in the book
“But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, he must find it out.”
scarcely/ˈskɛɹsɫi/43× in the book
Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball …
carriage/ˈkæɹɪdʒ/43× in the book
… everybody says that he is ate up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise.”
compliment/ˈkɑmpɫəmɛnt/40× in the book
I did not expect such a compliment.”
oblige/əˈbɫaɪdʒ/40× in the book
… but he eluded the skill of them all; and they were at last obliged to accept the secondhand intelligence of their neighbour Lady Lucas.
amiable/ˈeɪmiəbəɫ/36× in the book
Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves.
distress/dɪˈstɹɛs/35× in the book
“It is difficult indeed —it is distressing.
invitation/ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/35× in the book
This was invitation enough.
humour/ˈhjumɝ/32× in the book
Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good humoured as Lydia.
sensible/ˈsɛnsəbəɫ/32× in the book
Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/32× in the book
An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all.
temper/ˈtɛmpɝ/31× in the book
She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.
instantly/ˈɪnstəntɫi/31× in the book
… was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William — “Indeed …
neighbourhood/ˈneɪbɝˌhʊd/30× in the book
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families …
countenance/ˈkaʊntənəns/30× in the book
Mr. Bingley was good looking and gentleman-like; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners.
ladyship30× in the book
“The garden in which stands my humble abode, is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship’s residence.”
charm/ˈtʃɑɹm/30× in the book
and his sisters are charming women.
astonishment/əˈstɑnɪʃmənt/29× in the book
The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest …
kindness/ˈkaɪndnəs/29× in the book
… and therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office …
dislike/dɪˈsɫaɪk/28× in the book
… how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill themselves; and then thought no more of the matter …
attachment/əˈtætʃmənt/28× in the book
There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself.
acquaint/əˈkweɪnt/27× in the book
“Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing?”
exceedingly/ɪkˈsidɪŋɫi/26× in the book
“I am exceedingly gratified,” said Bingley, “by your converting what my friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper.
disposition/ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/26× in the book
She told the story however with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.
objection/əbˈdʒɛkʃən/26× in the book
“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
admiration/ˌædmɝˈeɪʃən/25× in the book
… such as it was, had a value as arising in all probability from the influence of their brother’s admiration.
wholly/ˈhoʊɫi/25× in the book
… as to leave her very little attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew near the card-table …
regret/ɹəˈɡɹɛt/25× in the book
… a sense of very great ill usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is.
favour/ˈfeɪvɝ/24× in the book
One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself.
enquiry/ɪnˈkwaɪˌɹi/24× in the book
Her enquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered.
dine/ˈdaɪn/24× in the book
She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has since dined in company with him four times.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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