The strange transfiguration of Hannah Stubbs: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Florence Marryat uses again and again in The strange transfiguration of Hannah Stubbs 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.
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/101× in the book
he exclaimed, in English, which was quite intelligible, though rather broken, “and have you come to cheer my solitude?
whilst/ˈwaɪɫst/50× in the book
… and preserved the dignity of his birth, even whilst pursuing an occupation which is considered to place a man beyond the pale of Society.
landlady/ˈɫændˌɫeɪdi/39× in the book
“Anyways I must go,” observed the landlady, as he disappeared, “for that gal of mine is so stupid I can’t trust her to do a single thing alone.
commence/kəˈmɛns/32× in the book
… and with dried herbs and other mysterious preparations from a drawer, commenced to separate them into measured portions and to crumble them into a bowl.
cure/ˈkjʊɹ/26× in the book
said the Professor, “trust yourself to the Doctor and me and we’ll cure you of this nonsense.
till/ˈtɪɫ/24× in the book
“Wait till you have heard what I have to tell you, Steinberg, and you will acknowledge that I am right.
fool/ˈfuɫ/23× in the book
I found her making the kitchen table hop round the room yesterday, and when I told her not to be fooling like a child of five year old, she said she hadn’t touched it.
sich22× in the book
I’ve never been in sich a dark ’ole in all my life!
pore/ˈpɔɹ/22× in the book
… that I know but little of your doings, except that you shut yourself up in that little room for half the night and sit up poring over old books and manuscripts, long after you should be in bed and asleep.
inquire/ˌɪnˈkwaɪɹ/22× in the book
he inquired; “do you not understand?”
supper/ˈsəpɝ/22× in the book
… though I believe he’s sometimes sorely put-to to find the money, and every evenin’ he’s ’ome by eight o’clock and has his bit of supper and puts his light out by ten, but arter that—well!
cottage/ˈkɑtədʒ/22× in the book
The consternation which this mysterious epistle caused in the cottage home in Settlefield, may be better imagined than described.
ignorant/ˈɪɡnɝənt/21× in the book
We have all been young, Mrs. Battleby, and all been ignorant and wilful and done silly things.
devil/ˈdɛvəɫ/21× in the book
If devils, then also my Leonora, to speak with whom I have been promised over and over again, and feel I only want more power to accomplish.”
afore20× in the book
I often wish I’d been dead afore they’ve come after me!”
stairs/ˈstɛɹz/19× in the book
And so saying, he passed her and ran lightly up the stairs.
maid/ˈmeɪd/19× in the book
“Mrs. Battleby, my good friend, I want to speak with you, on behalf of your little maid, Hannah!
frighten/ˈfɹaɪtən/19× in the book
… if she had only cried, or seemed frightened, or sorry …
downstairs/ˈdaʊnˈstɛɹz/16× in the book
… as she piled all the plates and dishes on the top of one another, preparatory to making a grand smash if she should happen to slip going downstairs again.
curiosity/ˌkjʊɹiˈɑsəti/16× in the book
“And do you really believe that your dead wife will be able by the aid of Magic to return to you in bodily shape and satisfy your curiosity on this subject?”
allay/əˈɫeɪ/15× in the book
… if only for a moment, and allay his bitter fears by one means or the other.
fancy/ˈfænsi/15× in the book
You work so hard all day and permit this morbid fancy to occupy your tired brain by night, until it has become in a measure, diseased.
interpose/ˌɪntɝˈpoʊz/14× in the book
“But if evil spirits, then also good,” interposed the Professor eagerly, “you surely would not deny the same power to all those departed this earth.
coarse/ˈkɔɹs/14× in the book
Her bosom was unusually developed for so young a girl—her face was broad and flat—her mouth wide—her nose short and turned-up, and her colour coarse and high.
marvellous/ˈmɑɹvəɫəs/13× in the book
This is very marvellous!”
mortal/ˈmɔɹtəɫ/13× in the book
… that have had nothing to do with this earth, but who yet can and do come to the aid of those mortals who solicit their assistance.
deceive/dɪˈsiv/13× in the book
“Not if she were false,” cried the Professor, “I would kill her over again this moment, if she deceived me!
bargain/ˈbɑɹɡən/13× in the book
Of course I did, and would have killed her lover into the bargain, but that he escaped before I could lay hands on him.
recognise/ˈɹɛkəɡˌnaɪz/12× in the book
An old woman whom I cannot recognise, seems to have taken her place the last few days.
cunning/ˈkənɪŋ/12× in the book
These brainless creatures are sometimes uncommonly cunning.”
kindly/ˈkaɪndɫi/12× in the book
asked the Professor, kindly, “your brother?”
groan/ˈɡɹoʊn/12× in the book
Leonora seemed further off than ever, and he groaned in spirit to think she might be so near, and yet he was unable to communicate with her …
dull/ˈdəɫ/12× in the book
she answered, in a dull, low voice …
tray/ˈtɹeɪ/12× in the book
… putting the key in his pocket, and by the time Mrs. Battleby appeared with the supper tray, the two friends were talking gaily of a new drama that had just created some sensation in the town.
grasp/ˈɡɹæsp/12× in the book
“I can see that you are weary,” said the young doctor, as he grasped his hand, “and more than that, Signor, you are weak.
uncouth/ˈənˈkuθ/11× in the book
Taken altogether, she was uncouth, but there was an innocence and simplicity in her gaze which was very attractive when one had the time to discover it.
physic11× in the book
But if you wants to ’ave ’er up here of an evening, and physic ’er and all that sort of thing, why I don’t like to refuse a offer made in kindness …
clever/ˈkɫɛvɝ/11× in the book
He was a German of the name of Steinberg, and the profession of medicine—a clever fellow who was rising fast, and knew how to make the best of his opportunities.
morrow/ˈmɑɹoʊ/10× in the book
To-morrow, perhaps, I may be able to judge more calmly.
apparition/ˌæpɝˈɪʃən/10× in the book
A few minutes’ patience was rewarded by the same apparition standing in the doorway, and holding out, as it seemed, its hand toward the Doctor.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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