The Prince and the Pauper: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Mark Twain uses again and again in The Prince and the Pauper 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.
thou/ˈðaʊ/206× in the book
“Mind thy manners, thou young beggar!”
thee/ˈði/137× in the book
“Tom Canty, an’ it please thee, sir.”
prince/ˈpɹɪns/100× in the book
… and smarting from a thrashing, he unleashed his imagination and soon forgot his aches and pains in delicious picturings to himself of the charmed life of a petted prince in a regal palace.
lord/ˈɫɔɹd/65× in the book
… unconscious of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him—and not caring, either.
royal/ˈɹɔɪəɫ/50× in the book
Privately, after a while, Tom organised a royal court!
rag/ˈɹæɡ/40× in the book
But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.
till/ˈtɪɫ/36× in the book
and so bravely dressed!—and there be plays wherein they that play do shout and fight till all are slain, and ’tis so fine to see …
whilst/ˈwaɪɫst/34× in the book
My mother died whilst I was yet a boy.
palace/ˈpæɫəs/34× in the book
… lovely road, past the great cardinal’s stately palace, toward a far more mighty and majestic palace beyond—Westminster.
grace/ˈɡɹeɪs/30× in the book
Thou speakest well; thou hast an easy grace in it.
presently/ˈpɹɛzəntɫi/28× in the book
… also, presently began to discuss Tom Canty, and to regard him as a most gifted and extraordinary creature.
mutter/ˈmətɝ/28× in the book
He kept muttering to himself, “Offal Court—that is the name …
clothe/ˈkɫoʊð/25× in the book
They were good-hearted girls, unclean, clothed in rags, and profoundly ignorant.
throne/ˈθɹoʊn/25× in the book
Then followed such a thing as England had never seen before—the sacred person of the heir to the throne rudely buffeted by plebeian hands, and set upon and torn by dogs.
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/24× in the book
Lifting up his hands, he exclaimed—
crown/ˈkɹaʊn/24× in the book
… with none to rebuke me or forbid, meseemeth I could forego the crown!”
doth/ˈdɔθ/23× in the book
How doth thy mother use thee?”
hermit/ˈhɝmət/21× in the book
The Prince and the hermit.
worship/ˈwɝʃəp/21× in the book
“Neither to any other is she, so please your worship.
noble/ˈnoʊbəɫ/21× in the book
Splendid carriages, with splendid people in them and splendid servants outside, were arriving and departing by several other noble gateways that pierced the royal enclosure.
liege/ˈɫidʒ/20× in the book
“But is it not I that speed him hence, my liege?
cease/ˈsis/20× in the book
The laughter ceased on the instant, and fury took its place.
mock/ˈmɑk/18× in the book
Daily the mock prince was received with elaborate ceremonials borrowed by Tom from his romantic readings; daily the great affairs of the mimic kingdom were discussed in the royal council …
instant/ˈɪnstənt/18× in the book
The next instant one of the soldiers snatched him rudely away, and sent him spinning among the gaping crowd of country gawks and London idlers.
dignity/ˈdɪɡnəti/18× in the book
The boys stopped their play and flocked about the prince, who said with native dignity—
thyself/ˌðaɪˈsɛɫf/17× in the book
Thou wilt not miscall thyself again, as they say thou didst a little while agone?”
honour/ˈɑnɝ/17× in the book
Is the prince to tarry uninstalled, because, forsooth, the realm lacketh an Earl Marshal free of treasonable taint to invest him with his honours?
majesty/ˈmædʒəsti/17× in the book
“I have no knowledge of this tongue, so please your majesty.”
bow/ˈbaʊ/17× in the book
Next he drew the beautiful sword, and bowed, kissing the blade …
princely/ˈpɹɪnsɫi/16× in the book
By-and-by Tom’s reading and dreaming about princely life wrought such a strong effect upon him that he began to act the prince, unconsciously.
wrought/ˈɹɔt/16× in the book
that he shall cease to speak to any of that lowly birth and life his malady hath conjured out of the unwholesome imaginings of o’er-wrought fancy; that he shall strive with diligence to bring unto his memory again those faces which he was wont to know—and where he faileth he shall hold his peace …
thine/ˈðaɪn/16× in the book
If that I could but clothe me in raiment like to thine, and strip my feet …
multitude/ˈməɫtəˌtud/16× in the book
… now, among that multitude of strangers; whereas …
royalty/ˈɹɔɪəɫti/16× in the book
… with its gilded bars and its magnificent array of colossal granite lions, and other the signs and symbols of English royalty.
utter/ˈətɝ/16× in the book
It is not meet that one of my degree should utter the thing.”
nought15× in the book
… whensoever any matter shall perplex him as to the thing he should do or the utterance he should make, he shall show nought of unrest to the curious that look on, but take advice in that matter of the Lord Hertford …
reign/ˈɹeɪn/15× in the book
He raised himself higher still, and went on with energy, “He is mad; but he is my son, and England’s heir; and, mad or sane, still shall he reign!
obey/oʊˈbeɪ/15× in the book
The soldier that had maltreated Tom obeyed promptly; and as the prince burst through the portal …
mercy/ˈmɝsi/15× in the book
“God requite thy mercy, O my King, and save thee long to bless thy land!”
betray/bɪˈtɹeɪ/15× in the book
The King was silent and thoughtful a while, and his face betrayed a growing distress and uneasiness.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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