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Vocabulary Jam
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Explore the Words
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circumspect
careful to consider potential consequences and avoid riskI honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintances is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight.Chapter 2, page 8
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caprice
a sudden desireMr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and
caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character.Chapter 1, page 5 -
rapture
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion...and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the
raptures of his wife.Chapter 2, page 9 -
barefaced
unrestrained by convention or proprietyThey attacked him in various ways-- with
barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises-- but he eluded the skill of them all...Chapter 3, page 10 -
surmise
a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidenceThey attacked him in various ways-- with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant
surmises-- but he eluded the skill of them all...Chapter 3, page 10 -
ascertain
learn or determine by making an inquiry or other effortThe ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of
ascertaining from an upper window that he wore a blue coat and rode a black horse.Chapter 3, page 10 -
defer
hold back to a later timeAn 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.Chapter 3, page 11 -
censure
harsh criticism or disapproval"I would wish not to be hasty in
censuring any one; but I always speak what I think."Chapter 4, page 16; Chapter 8, page 42 -
candor
the quality of being honest and straightforwardAffection of
candor is common enough; one meets it everywhere.Chapter 4, page 17 -
candid
openly straightforward and direct without secretivenessBut to be
candid without ostentation or design-- to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad-- belongs to you alone.Chapter 4, page 17 -
endear
make attractive or lovableBingley was
endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied.Chapter 4, page 18 -
ductile
easily influencedBingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied.Chapter 4, page 18
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deficient
inadequate in amount or degreeBingley was by no means
deficient, but Darcy was clever.Chapter 4, page 18 -
mayoralty
the position of mayorSir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune and risen to the honor of knighthood by an address to the King, during his
mayoralty.Chapter 5, page 20 -
supercilious
expressive of contemptFor though elated by his rank, it did not render him
supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody.Chapter 5, page 20; Chapter 6, page 24 -
hack
an old or over-worked horse...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.Chapter 5, page 22 -
chaise
a carriage consisting of two wheels and a calash top...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.Chapter 5, page 22 -
mortified
made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride...and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not
mortified mine.Chapter 5, page 22 -
complacency
the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself...and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-
complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary.Chapter 5, page 22 -
ascertain
learn or discover with confidenceYes; these four evenings have enabled them to
ascertain that they both like vingt-et-un better than commerce...Chapter 6, page 26 -
satirical
exposing human folly to ridiculeHe has a very
satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.Chapter 6, page 27 -
impertinent
improperly forward or boldHe has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being
impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.Chapter 6, page 27 -
defy
challengeOn his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas
defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said...Chapter 6, page 27 -
solidity
the quality of being solid and reliable financially or factually or morally"Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the
solidity of her reflections...Chapter 5, page 22 -
entreat
ask for or request earnestlyI
entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.Chapter 6, page 30 -
inducement
a positive motivational influenceHe is indeed-- but considering the
inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?Chapter 6, page 30 -
complaisance
a tendency to try to please or yield to the will of othersHe is indeed-- but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his
complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?Chapter 6, page 30 -
archly
with playful slyness or roguishnessElizabeth looked
archly, and turned away.Chapter 6, page 30 -
insipidity
extreme dullness; a lack of spirit or interestThe
insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people!Chapter 6, page 31 -
stricture
severe criticismWhat would I give to hear your
strictures on them!Chapter 6, page 31 -
intrepidity
resolute courageousness..and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great
intrepidity.Chapter 6, page 31 -
entail
limit the inheritance of property to specific heirsMr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was
entailed in the default of heirs male, on a distant relation...Chapter 7, page 32 -
milliner
someone who makes and sells hats..who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week to pay their duty to their aunt and to a millliner's shop just over the way.Chapter 7, page 32
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contrive
make or work out a plan for; devise...and however bare of news the country in general might be, they always
contrived to learn some from their aunt. -
felicity
state of well-being characterized by contentmentMr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of
felicity unknown before.Chapter 7, page 33 -
effusion
an unrestrained expression of emotionAfter listening one morning to their
effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed...Chapter 7, page 33 -
disconcerted
having self-possession upset; thrown into confusionCatherine was
disconcerted, and made no answer...Chapter 7, page 33 -
tete-a-tete
a private conversation between two people..for a whole day's
tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a quarrel.Chapter 7, page 34 -
extort
obtain by coercion or intimidationShe did at last
extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged.Chapter 7, page 35 -
contrivance
any improvised arrangement for temporary useTill the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her
contrivance.Chapter 7, page 36 -
prognostic
of or relating to prediction...and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful
prognostics of a bad day.Chpater 7, page 35 -
impute
attribute to a cause or sourceI find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose is to be
imputed to my getting wet through yesterday.Chapter 7, page 36 -
repair
move, travel, or proceed toward some place...the two youngest
repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives...Chapter 7, page 37; Chapter 8, pate 41 -
solicitude
a feeling of excessive concern...and Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and
solicitude they showed for Jane.Chapter 7, page 38; Chapter 8, page 39 -
indolent
disinclined to work or exertion...and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an
indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards, who when he found her prefer a plain dish to a ragout had nothing to say to her.Chapter 8, page 39 -
ragout
well-seasoned stew of meat and vegetables...and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards, who when he found her prefer a plain dish to a
ragout had nothing to say to her.Chapter 8, page 39 -
capital
of primary importance"Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside." "That is
capital," added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.Chapter 8, page 41
It seems to me that they are using this sarcastically, but I'm not sure. -
esteem
look on as or consider...no one can be really
esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with.Chapter 8, page 41 -
paltry
not worth considering...is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a
paltry device, a very mean art.Chapter 8, page 45 -
condescend
act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way...there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes
condescend to employ for captivation.Chapter 8, page 45 -
efficacy
capacity or power to produce a desired resultI wonder who first discovered the
efficacy of poetry in driving away love.Chapter 9, page 50 -
piquet
a card game for two players using a reduced pack of 32 cardsMr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at
piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game.Chapter 10, page 52 -
contrive
put or send forthHow can you
contrive to write so even?Chapter 10, page 53 -
reproof
an act or expression of criticism and censure"Your humility, Mr. Bingley," said Elizabeth, "must disarm
reproof."Chapter 10, page 53 -
estimable
deserving of honor and respect...you are really proud of your defects in writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of thought and carelessness of execution, which if not
estimable, you think at least highly interesting.Chapter 10, page 54 -
panegyric
a formal expression of praiseWhen you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of
panegyric, of compliment to yourself...Chapter 10, page 54 -
precipitance
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warningWhen you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself-- and yet what is there so very laudable in a
precipitance which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or any one else? -
celerity
a rate that is rapid...but I am by no means convinced that you would be gone with such
celerity.Chapter 10, page 54 -
propriety
correct behavior...the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and the delay of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering one argument in favor of its
propriety.Lots of uses, this sentence from Chapter 10, page 55 -
discretion
freedom to act or judge on one's ownWe may as well wait, perhaps, till the circumstance occurs, before we discuss the
discretion of his behavior thereupon.Chapter 10, page 55 -
appertain
be a part or attribute ofWill it not be advisable before we proceed on this subject to arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to
appertain to this request...Chapter 10, page 56 -
expostulation
an exclamation of protest, opposition, or criticismMiss Bingley warmly resented the indignity he had received, in an
expostulation with her brother for talking such nonsense.Chapter 10, page 56 -
alacrity
liveliness and eagernessMiss Bingley moved with
alacrity to the pianoforte...Chapter 10, page 57 -
approbation
official acceptance or agreementShe liked him too little to care for his
approbation.Chapter 10, page 57 -
affront
treat, mention, or speak to rudelyElizabeth, having rather expected to
affront him, was amazed at his gallantry...Chapter 10, page 58 -
compass
bring about; accomplish...and if you can
compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after the officers.Chapter 10, page 58
Created on January 10, 2013
(updated March 1, 2013)
(updated March 1, 2013)