The Canterville Ghost: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Oscar Wilde uses again and again in The Canterville Ghost 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.
stain/ˈsteɪn/15× in the book
Following her, they passed through the fine Tudor hall into the library, a long, low room, panelled in black oak, at the end of which was a large stained glass window.
frighten/ˈfɹaɪtən/9× in the book
However, by taking great care of himself, he recovered, and resolved to make a third attempt to frighten the United States Minister and his family.
shriek/ˈʃɹik/6× in the book
The ghost started up with a wild shriek of rage, and swept through them like a mist, extinguishing Washington Otis’s candle as he passed, and so leaving them all in total darkness.
staircase/ˈstɛɹˌkeɪs/6× in the book
Just, however, as he reached the top of the great oak staircase, a door was flung open, two little white-robed figures appeared, and a large pillow whizzed past his head!
fearful/ˈfɪɹfəɫ/6× in the book
… but no sooner had he said these words than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the sombre room, a fearful peal of thunder made them all start to their feet, and Mrs. Umney fainted.
jewel/ˈdʒuəɫ/6× in the book
He had been very wicked, but he was really sorry for all that he had done, and he gave me this box of beautiful jewels before he died.”
till/ˈtɪɫ/6× in the book
They did not return home till nine o’clock, when they had a light supper.
grey/ˈɡɹeɪ/5× in the book
His eyes were as red burning coals; long grey hair fell over his shoulders in matted coils; his garments …
wainscot/ˈweɪnskət/5× in the book
There was evidently no time to be lost, so, hastily adopting the Fourth dimension of Space as a means of escape, he vanished through the wainscoting, and the house became quite quiet.
churchyard/ˈtʃɝtʃˌjɑɹd/5× in the book
… so he contented himself with becoming faintly phosphorescent, and vanished with a deep churchyard groan, just as the twins had come up to him.
gipsy5× in the book
… some few days before, he had given a band of gipsies permission to camp in the park.
housekeeper/ˈhaʊˌskipɝ/5× in the book
This was Mrs. Umney, the housekeeper, whom Mrs. Otis, at Lady Canterville’s earnest request, had consented to keep in her former position.
rusty/ˈɹəsti/5× in the book
… were soiled and ragged, and from his wrists and ankles hung heavy manacles and rusty gyves.
wicked/ˈwɪkəd/5× in the book
He remembered the terrible night when the wicked Lord Canterville was found choking in his dressing-room, with the knave of diamonds half-way down his throat …
evidently/ˈɛvədəntɫi/5× in the book
… with the light-hearted gaiety of schoolboys, were evidently amusing themselves before they retired to rest, but at a quarter-past eleven all was still …
accordingly/əˈkɔɹdɪŋɫi/5× in the book
He accordingly rubbed out the stain a second time, but the second morning it appeared again.
emerald/ˈɛmɝɹəɫd/4× in the book
… according to the simple rites of the Free American Reformed Episcopalian Church, they found it a bright emerald-green.
pony/ˈpoʊˌni/4× in the book
She was a wonderful Amazon, and had once raced old Lord Bilton on her pony twice round the park, winning by a length and a half …
hollow/ˈhɑɫoʊ/4× in the book
… he fled down the corridor, uttering hollow groans, and emitting a ghastly green light.
groan/ˈɡɹoʊn/4× in the book
A few hollow groans from the wardrobe, he thought, would be more than sufficient, or, if that failed to wake her, he might grabble at the counterpane with palsy-twitching fingers.
skeleton/ˈskɛɫətən/4× in the book
Imbedded in the wall was a huge iron ring, and chained to it was a gaunt skeleton, that was stretched out at full length on the stone floor …
murmur/ˈmɝmɝ/4× in the book
“Poor, poor Ghost,” she murmured; “have you no place where you can sleep?”
tremble/ˈtɹɛmbəɫ/4× in the book
… and there to place a clammy hand on Mrs. Otis’s forehead, while he hissed into her trembling husband’s ear the awful secrets of the charnel-house.
distress/dɪˈstɹɛs/4× in the book
… for some unexplained reason, was always a good deal distressed at the sight of the blood-stain, and very nearly cried the morning it was emerald-green.
eleven/ˈiɫɛvən/4× in the book
At eleven o’clock the family retired, and by half-past all the lights were out.
ruin/ˈɹuən/4× in the book
He was sitting by the window, watching the ruined gold of the yellowing trees fly through the air, and the red leaves dancing madly down the long avenue.
faint/ˈfeɪnt/4× in the book
… a fearful peal of thunder made them all start to their feet, and Mrs. Umney fainted.
mil/ˈmɪɫ/3× in the book
As Canterville Chase is seven miles from Ascot, the nearest railway station, Mr. Otis had telegraphed for a waggonette to meet them, and they started on their drive in high spirits.
horrid/ˈhɔɹəd/3× in the book
“How horrid!”
peal/ˈpiɫ/3× in the book
On reaching the top of the staircase he recovered himself, and determined to give his celebrated peal of demoniac laughter.
colour/ˈkəɫɝ/3× in the book
The chameleon-like colour, also, of the stain excited a good deal of comment.
phantom/ˈfænəm/3× in the book
… and, after a second hasty glance at the awful phantom, he fled back to his room …
stairs/ˈstɛɹz/3× in the book
The third morning also it was there, though the library had been locked up at night by Mr. Otis himself, and the key carried up-stairs.
aristocracy/ˌɛɹəˈstɑkɹəsi/3× in the book
But there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy.”
heirloom/ˈɛɹˌɫum/3× in the book
… or should be, heirlooms in your family.
wither/ˈwɪðɝ/3× in the book
… and, raising his withered hands high above his head, swore according to the picturesque phraseology of the antique school …
butler/ˈbətɫɝ/3× in the book
… and finally dropping the rusty dagger into the Minister’s jack-boots, where it was found in the morning by the butler.
dagger/ˈdæɡɝ/3× in the book
… a winding-sheet frilled at the wrists and neck, and a rusty dagger.
supernatural/ˌsupɝˈnætʃɝəɫ/3× in the book
No mention at all was made of the supernatural, nor was Sir Simon de Canterville alluded to in any way.
crow/ˈkɹoʊ/3× in the book
Hour after hour he waited, but the cock, for some strange reason, did not crow again.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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