Wuthering Heights: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Emily Brontë uses again and again in Wuthering Heights 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/149× in the book
… at every glance retired colder and farther; till finally the poor innocent was led to doubt her own senses, and …
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/85× in the book
I exclaimed, assuming the cheerful; “and I fear I shall be weather-bound for half an hour, if you can afford me shelter during that space.”
papa/ˈpɑˌpə/63× in the book
Oh, papa!
mistress/ˈmɪstɹəs/51× in the book
“Eighteen, sir: I came when the mistress was married, to wait on her; after she died, the master retained me for his housekeeper.”
upstairs/əpˈstɛɹz/44× in the book
While leading the way upstairs, she recommended that I should hide the candle …
inquire/ˌɪnˈkwaɪɹ/41× in the book
The latter had never been under-drawn: its entire anatomy lay bare to an inquiring eye, except where a frame of wood laden with oatcakes and clusters of legs of beef …
moor/ˈmʊɹ/40× in the book
People familiar with these moors often miss their road on such evenings; and I can tell you there is no chance of a change at present.”
countenance/ˈkaʊntənəns/38× in the book
The apartment and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a homely, northern farmer, with a stubborn countenance, and stalwart limbs set out to advantage in knee-breeches and gaiters.
mutter/ˈmətɝ/38× in the book
I muttered.
commence/kəˈmɛns/35× in the book
I commenced again.
utter/ˈətɝ/35× in the book
The “walk in” was uttered with closed teeth, and expressed the sentiment …
devil/ˈdɛvəɫ/34× in the book
“What the devil is the matter?”
fancy/ˈfænsi/30× in the book
I could fancy a love for life here almost possible; and I was a fixed unbeliever in any love of a year’s standing.
wicked/ˈwɪkəd/29× in the book
“Oh, wicked, wicked!”
temper/ˈtɛmpɝ/29× in the book
They could not every day sit so grim and taciturn; and it was impossible, however ill-tempered they might be, that the universal scowl they wore was their everyday countenance.
hearth/ˈhɑɹθ/28× in the book
… I don’t think they moved one second faster than usual, though the hearth was an absolute tempest of worrying and yelping.
scarcely/ˈskɛɹsɫi/28× in the book
… but, imagining they would scarcely understand tacit insults, I unfortunately indulged in winking and making faces at the trio …
depart/dɪˈpɑɹt/27× in the book
Seventy times seven times have I plucked up my hat and been about to depart —Seventy times seven times have you preposterously forced me to resume my seat.
compel/kəmˈpɛɫ/27× in the book
“Then, it follows that I am compelled to stay.”
obey/oʊˈbeɪ/26× in the book
I obeyed; and hemmed, and called the villain Juno, who deigned, at this second interview, to move the extreme tip of her tail, in token of owning my acquaintance.
humour/ˈhjumɝ/25× in the book
… I felt loth to yield the fellow further amusement at my expense; since his humour took that turn.
pity/ˈpɪti/25× in the book
A sad pity —I must beware how I cause her to regret her choice.”
affirm/əˈfɝm/25× in the book
… but he seemed so powerfully affected that I took pity and proceeded with my dreams; affirming I had never heard the appellation of “Catherine Linton” before, but reading it often over produced an impression which personified itself when I had no longer my imagination under control.
parlour/ˈpɑɹɫɝ/23× in the book
It includes kitchen and parlour, generally …
oblige/əˈbɫaɪdʒ/23× in the book
Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house.
housekeeper/ˈhaʊˌskipɝ/22× in the book
Thus interrupting herself, the housekeeper rose, and proceeded to lay aside her sewing; but I felt incapable of moving from the hearth, and I was very far from nodding.
sob/ˈsɑb/22× in the book
… but the hand clung to it, and a most melancholy voice sobbed, “Let me in —let me in!”
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/22× in the book
… and, five minutes afterwards, the entrance of Heathcliff relieved me …
spare/ˈspɛɹ/22× in the book
“Perhaps I can get a guide among your lads, and he might stay at the Grange till morning —could you spare me one?”
scold/ˈskoʊɫd/21× in the book
The vehemence of my agitation brought on a copious bleeding at the nose, and still Heathcliff laughed, and still I scolded.
weep/ˈwip/21× in the book
… at last, fell a-weeping —and when I asked what was the matter, answered …
conceal/kənˈsiɫ/21× in the book
… and ham, concealed it.
rouse/ˈɹaʊs/20× in the book
… while his father was near, roused the old man to a fury: he seized his stick to strike him …
frighten/ˈfɹaɪtən/20× in the book
I was frightened, and Mrs. Earnshaw was ready to fling it out of doors …
tremble/ˈtɹɛmbəɫ/20× in the book
The little witch put a mock malignity into her beautiful eyes, and Joseph, trembling with sincere horror, hurried out, praying, and ejaculating “wicked” as he went.
endeavour/ɪnˈdɛvɝ/19× in the book
I thought her conduct must be prompted by a species of dreary fun; and, now that we were alone, I endeavoured to interest her in my distress.
quarrel/ˈkwɔɹəɫ/19× in the book
to quarrel who should hold a heap of warm hair, and each begin to cry because both, after struggling to get it, refused to take it.
grieve/ˈɡɹiv/19× in the book
“High time, Heathcliff,” I said; “you have grieved Catherine: she’s sorry she ever came home, I daresay!
pony/ˈpoʊˌni/19× in the book
He was not far; I found him smoothing the glossy coat of the new pony in the stable, and feeding the other beasts, according to custom.
murmur/ˈmɝmɝ/19× in the book
“A man’s life is of more consequence than one evening’s neglect of the horses: somebody must go,” murmured Mrs. Heathcliff, more kindly than I expected.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
Read the book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary