- entailnounChapter 1 →
A legal arrangement that forces an estate to be inherited only by a specific line of heirs, preventing the current owner from leaving it freely to whoever he chooses.
- ill-disposedadjectiveChapter 1 →
Having a bad or unkind character; inclined toward selfish or ungenerous behavior rather than goodness.
“He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted, and rather selfish, is to be ill-disposed.”
- sanguineadjectiveChapter 2 →
Cheerfully optimistic and confident about the future, even when circumstances give little reason for such hope.
“Mrs. Dashwood was too sanguine, however, to distrust the future; she had no doubt of being able to do something with the house.”
- compactadjectiveChapter 2 →
Neatly and efficiently arranged within a small space, with nothing wasted or sprawling.
“As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the roof was tiled”
- defectiveadjectiveChapter 2 →
Falling short of what is expected or required; here, failing to look like a proper picturesque cottage because it was too regular and tidy.
“as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green”
- resourcesnounChapter 3 →
The activities or interests a person relies on to fill their time and give their life meaning or pleasure.
“Sir John was a sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother. He hunted and shot, and she humoured her children; and these were their only resources.”
- humouredverbChapter 3 →
Indulged someone's wishes or whims without resistance, going along with whatever they wanted to keep them happy.
“He hunted and shot, and she humoured her children; and these were their only resources.”
- countenancenounChapter 4 →
The overall expression and look of a person's face, especially as it reveals their character or intelligence.
“though his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his address was particularly gentlemanlike.”
- addressnounChapter 4 →
The manner in which a person speaks and presents themselves in social situations; their bearing and way of approaching others.
“though his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his address was particularly gentlemanlike.”
- animatedadjectiveChapter 4 →
Lively, energetic, and showing strong feeling or enthusiasm in one's manner and expression.
“if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must have long outlived every sensation of the kind.”
- ardournounChapter 5 →
Intense enthusiasm and passionate eagerness, especially in feeling or in the pursuit of something deeply desired.
“he joined not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind which was now roused and increased by the example of her own.”
- captivatingadjectiveChapter 5 →
So attractive and charming as to hold someone's attention completely and win their admiration or affection.
“he joined not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind which was now roused and increased by the example of her own.”
- peculiaradjectiveChapter 6 →
Distinctive or special; here meaning any particular or notable quality that sets someone apart in an impressive way.
“Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address.”
- intimacynounChapter 6 →
Close personal familiarity developed over time spent together, which allows a person's true qualities to become apparent.
“He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing.”
- esteemnounChapter 6 →
Deep respect and high regard for someone based on their moral worth and good qualities, distinct from romantic love.
“I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love.”
- delineatedverbChapter 7 →
Described or pictured in precise detail; here, sketched out in the imagination as an ideal.
“Willoughby was all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every brighter period, as capable of attaching her.”
- idolisedverbChapter 7 →
Admired and treasured something with an almost worshipful intensity, treating it as perfect and beyond criticism.
“The same books, the same passages were idolised by each — or if any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments”
- agitationnounChapter 8 →
A state of anxious inner disturbance and nervous unease that shows itself in a person's voice or manner.
“his voice and manner were so expressive of agitation and vexation as I thought must, in spite of his resolution to the contrary, have betray'd”
- vexationnounChapter 8 →
A feeling of frustration and irritated annoyance, especially at a situation one cannot openly acknowledge or escape.
“his voice and manner were so expressive of agitation and vexation as I thought must, in spite of his resolution to the contrary, have betray'd”
- perturbationnounChapter 9 →
A state of mental agitation and emotional disturbance that makes it hard to stay calm or think clearly.
“Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone.”
- jointurenounChapter 9 →
A legal provision of income or property settled on a wife to support her after her husband's death, paid to her as a widow.
“Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure... she had two daughters... both respectably married”
- flatter myselfphraseChapter 10 →
To believe or hope something favorable about oneself or one's situation, often used politely to soften a claim or request.
“I flatter myself you will do me the justice to believe that I have always sought to avoid giving you unnecessary pain.”
- injusticenounChapter 10 →
Unfair and undeserved harm or wrong done to someone, here the cruel treatment Marianne suffers through Willoughby's deception.
“Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice to which her sister was exposed.”
- conjecturesnounChapter 12 →
Guesses or conclusions formed without firm evidence, based on incomplete information and reasoning from what little is known.
“Elinor remained behind to form conjectures, while the others were gone to wonder.”
- do homagephraseChapter 12 →
To pay respectful attention or tribute to someone; here used ironically to mean going to visit or pay court to a woman.
“He has left us to do homage to Miss Williams.”
- self-destructionnounChapter 13 →
The act of bringing about one's own ruin or death; here used to mean that dying from grief would have been a kind of moral self-killing.
“Had I died, — it would have been self-destruction.”
- impulsenounChapter 14 →
A sudden, instinctive urge to act that comes before conscious thought or deliberate decision.
“Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him, obeyed the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the room”
Sense and SensibilityNovel by Jane Austen