- BaronetagenounChapter 1 →
A printed register listing all hereditary baronets of England, recording their family histories, titles, and estates. Sir Walter consults it as a source of personal pride and social identity.
- vanity of personphraseChapter 1 →
Excessive pride in one's own physical appearance and bodily attractiveness, as distinct from pride in rank or wealth.
“Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; vanity of person and of situation.”
- prudencenounChapter 2 →
Careful, cautious judgment that avoids risk, especially in financial or social matters; here it means giving up romance for the sake of practical safety rather than genuine wisdom.
“She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older.”
- sequelnounChapter 2 →
A natural result or consequence that follows from something earlier; not a follow-up story, but the logical outcome of a prior situation.
“the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.”
- futuritynounChapter 2 →
The future, especially regarded as something one can hope in or plan for with confidence; used here to mean trust that things will work out in time.
“how eloquent, at least, were her wishes on the side of early warm attachment, and a cheerful confidence in futurity.”
- brilliancynounChapter 2 →
Striking mental sharpness, liveliness, and impressive personal charm; more than intelligence alone — it includes dazzling social energy.
“He was, at that time, a remarkably fine young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit and brilliancy.”
- innoxiousadjectiveChapter 3 →
Harmless; causing no irritation or distress. Austen uses it to say that certain sounds bother no one at all, depending on their nature rather than their volume.
“sounds are quite innoxious, or most distressing, by their sort rather than their quantity.”
- cordialitynounChapter 3 →
Warm, genuine friendliness in manner and welcome; a heartfelt kindness that goes beyond mere politeness.
“being treated with the greatest cordiality.”
- intercoursenounChapter 4 →
Communication and social dealings between people; in this period the word simply means any exchange of words or interaction, with no other connotation.
“They had no conversation together, no intercourse but what the commonest civility required.”
- civilitynounChapter 4 →
The minimum polite behaviour that social rules require between people, even when there is no warmth or friendship behind it.
“no intercourse but what the commonest civility required.”
- feebleness of characterphraseChapter 4 →
A weakness of will or lack of moral backbone; the inability to hold firm to one's own judgment when pressured by others.
“she had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident temper could not endure.”
- shewnverbChapter 4 →
An older spelling of 'shown'; past participle of 'show,' meaning demonstrated or revealed.
“she had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so.”
- tawnyadjectiveChapter 6 →
A warm brownish-orange or golden-brown colour, like the shade of autumn leaves as they dry and fade.
“the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges.”
- witheredadjectiveChapter 6 →
Dried up and shrunken from loss of moisture; used here of hedges and vegetation that have gone dead and brown at the end of autumn.
“the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges.”
- presence of mindphraseChapter 8 →
The ability to think clearly and act calmly and effectively in a sudden emergency, without panicking.
“She was the only one present who had presence of mind.”
- loftyadjectiveChapter 10 →
Impressively high and grand in physical position or appearance; here describing a house in an elevated, prestigious location that suits a man who values status.
“Sir Walter had taken a very good house in Camden Place, a lofty dignified situation, such as becomes a man of consequence.”
- man of consequencephraseChapter 10 →
A person of high social importance and standing, whose rank and wealth command respect and deference from others.
“a lofty dignified situation, such as becomes a man of consequence.”
- rationaladjectiveChapter 10 →
Governed by reason and good sense rather than emotion or impulse; here it is a qualified compliment — Mr Elliot is sensible but suspiciously lacking in genuine feeling.
“Mr Elliot was rational, discreet, polished — but he was not open.”
- discreetadjectiveChapter 10 →
Careful and tactful in speech and behaviour, avoiding anything that might cause offence or reveal too much; here it hints at a calculated, guarded quality.
“Mr Elliot was rational, discreet, polished — but he was not open.”
- polishedadjectiveChapter 10 →
Refined and smooth in manners and conversation, with no rough or awkward edges; the word suggests social skill that may be more surface than substance.
“Mr Elliot was rational, discreet, polished — but he was not open.”
- indignationnounChapter 11 →
Strong anger felt in response to something perceived as unjust or morally wrong; here its absence in Mr Elliot signals he has no genuine moral feeling.
“There was never any burst of feeling, any warmth of indignation or delight, at the evil or good of others.”
- designingadjectiveChapter 12 →
Scheming and calculating; secretly planning to use or manipulate others for personal gain while hiding one's true motives.
“He is a man without heart or conscience; a designing, wary, cold-blooded being, who thinks only of himself.”
- waryadjectiveChapter 12 →
Cautiously watchful and on guard, always alert to danger or opportunity; here it describes someone who is strategically self-protective rather than innocently careful.
“a designing, wary, cold-blooded being, who thinks only of himself.”
- amiableadjectiveChapter 12 →
Pleasantly friendly, good-natured, and easy to like; having a genuinely warm and agreeable character.
“She had never, in the whole course of their acquaintance, been sensible of any other than a most amiable, gentle, and feeling character.”
- subdueverbChapter 12 →
To bring strong emotions under control and suppress them so they do not show outwardly; to calm or quieten feelings that threaten to overwhelm.
“leaning there in pretended employment, try to subdue the feelings this picture excited.”
- native landphraseChapter 13 →
The country or place where one was born and grew up; here used to express the deep pleasure of returning home after a long time away.
“She had tasted the sweets of her own native land after long absence, and every thing was welcome to her.”
PersuasionNovel by Jane Austen