- grumbledverbChapter 1 →
Said something in a low, discontented, complaining voice, expressing unhappiness without directly arguing or confronting anyone.
“"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.”
- chaplainnounChapter 1 →
A clergyman or minister attached to a military unit, responsible for the spiritual and religious welfare of soldiers rather than fighting himself.
- slough of despondphraseChapter 4 →
A state of deep hopelessness and misery; borrowed from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, it refers to a bog of despair that traps a traveler.
“"It's a regular 'slough of despond' in here, and I think the sooner we all get out of it the better."”
- jollyadjectiveChapter 3 →
Pleasantly cheerful, lively, and enjoyable; used here in the British sense to mean genuinely fun or delightful.
“"Don't you hate to go back? I do. It's so jolly here."”
- corporal punishmentphraseChapter 7 →
Physical discipline inflicted on a person as a penalty, such as striking a student's hand with a ruler, which was once common in schools.
“"I don't approve of corporal punishment, especially for girls."”
- loftyadjectiveChapter 7 →
Behaving in a way that is haughtily superior or self-important, as though looking down on others from a great height.
“Amy's lofty manner was rather funny, but her sisters did not laugh at her.”
- offencenounChapter 7 →
A rule-breaking act or misdeed that deserves some form of punishment; here it refers to Amy's act of bringing forbidden limes to school.
“"You were wrong, Amy, though I think the punishment was too great for the offence."”
- ApollyonnounChapter 8 →
The name of a terrifying demon in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; used here as a symbol for Jo's own destructive temper or inner devil.
- Vanity FairnounChapter 9 →
A place of empty worldly pleasures and social show, taken from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; here it stands for the shallow, fashion-obsessed world Meg visits.
- accomplishedadjectiveChapter 9 →
Skilled in the social arts expected of a well-bred young woman of the era, such as music, drawing, languages, and refined manners.
“"I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good; to be admired, loved, and respected."”
- trumpnounChapter 10 →
A thoroughly fine, reliable, and generous person; a term of warm approval meaning someone who can always be counted on.
“"He's a trump, and will lend us his big room to meet in, I know."”
- honorary memberphraseChapter 10 →
Someone admitted to a club or society as a mark of respect and goodwill, without having to meet the usual membership requirements.
“"I move that Mr. Laurence be admitted as an honorary member of the P.C."”
- henceforthadverbChapter 10 →
From this point in time onward; a formal way of saying 'from now on,' used here to give the club's announcement a grand, official tone.
“"The P.O. is established, and henceforth all correspondence will pass through it."”
- correspondencenounChapter 10 →
Letters and written messages exchanged between people; here it refers to the notes and contributions passed among the club members through their pretend post office.
“"The P.O. is established, and henceforth all correspondence will pass through it."”
- experimentnounChapter 11 →
A deliberate trial or test of a new way of doing things, undertaken to see what the results will be; here it means the girls' attempt to run the household themselves.
“"I think it would be a good experiment, as you call it, and I shall enjoy seeing how well you manage it."”
- elegantadjectiveChapter 11 →
Refined, graceful, and stylish in appearance or manner; used here with comic exaggeration to mean doing things in a grand, fashionable way no matter the cost.
“"Let us be elegant or die."”
- oppressverbChapter 12 →
To weigh heavily on someone's feelings, making them feel burdened, obligated, or uncomfortable; here it means that receiving favors makes the speaker feel indebted and constrained.
“"I don't like favors; they oppress me. I'd rather do everything for myself, and be perfectly independent."”
- affectedadjectiveChapter 12 →
Behaving in an unnatural, pretentious way designed to impress others rather than expressing genuine feeling; putting on airs.
“"It's naughty to be affected, but it's worse to be rude."”
- castles in the airphraseChapter 13 →
Daydreams or fantasies about an ideal future that may never come true; pleasant imaginary plans with no firm foundation in reality.
“"I think your castles in the air are the best of all. Now I'll tell you mine."”
- heroicadjectiveChapter 13 →
Showing great courage and nobility of purpose, worthy of being remembered and admired long after the deed is done.
“"I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle—something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead."”
- telegramnounChapter 15 →
A brief urgent message sent over telegraph wires and delivered in printed form; in the 1860s it was the fastest way to send news across long distances.
- sensationalistadjective
Describing writing that relies on shocking, dramatic, or lurid events to excite readers rather than on truthful or artistically serious storytelling.
- willnounChapter 19 →
A legal document in which a person states who should receive their belongings after they die; Amy writes one because she fears she may not survive her illness.
- interceptedverbChapter 20 →
Secretly stopped and read a message that was meant to be delivered to someone else, preventing it from reaching its intended recipient.
- forgedverbChapter 21 →
Wrote something falsely in another person's name in order to deceive; here Laurie wrote a fake reply pretending it came from Meg.
Little WomenNovel by Louisa May Alcott