Emma: Chapters 36–47

by Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse fancies herself a talented matchmaker, but she learns hard truths about love when her schemes go awry. Read the full text of Austen's classic novel here.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–11, Chapters 12–23, Chapters 24–35, Chapters 36–47, Chapters 48–55

Here are links to our lists for other works by Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Mansfield Park
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
    I always take the part of my own sex. I do indeed. I give you notice, You will find me a formidable antagonist on that point. I always stand up for women;
  2. interpose
    be or come between
    Mrs. Elton eagerly interposed with, "Oh! Mr. Weston, do not mistake me. Selina is no fine lady, I assure you. Do not run away with such an idea."
  3. retract
    formally reject or disavow
    It was by no means her object to have it believed that her sister was not a fine lady; perhaps there was want of spirit in the pretence of it;--and she was considering in what way she had best retract, when Mr. Weston went on.
  4. untoward
    contrary to your interests or welfare
    I have observed, Mrs. Elton, in the course of my life, that if things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next."
  5. indolent
    slow to heal or develop and usually painless
    Mr. Churchill has pride; but his pride is nothing to his wife's: his is a quiet, indolent, gentleman-like sort of pride that would harm nobody, and only make himself a little helpless and tiresome; but her pride is arrogance and insolence!
  6. concise
    expressing much in few words
    My charge would be much more concise than her's, and probably not much in the same spirit; all that I have to recommend being comprised in, do not spoil them, and do not physic them."
  7. incumbent
    necessary as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
    She did not mean to have her own affections entangled again, and it would be incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his.
  8. expeditious
    marked by speed and efficiency
    Our coachman and horses are so extremely expeditious!
  9. discourse
    an extended communication dealing with some particular topic
    Frank Churchill returned to his station by Emma; and as soon as Miss Bates was quiet, she found herself necessarily overhearing the discourse of Mrs. Elton and Miss Fairfax, who were standing a little way behind her.
  10. fortitude
    strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity
    Emma heard the sad truth with fortitude.
  11. approbation
    official recognition or commendation
    Frank turned instantly to Emma, to claim her former promise; and boasted himself an engaged man, which his father looked his most perfect approbation of--and it then appeared that Mrs. Weston was wanting him to dance with Mrs. Elton himself, and that their business was to help to persuade him into it, which was done pretty soon.
  12. impertinent
    improperly forward or bold
    How the trampers might have behaved, had the young ladies been more courageous, must be doubtful; but such an invitation for attack could not be resisted; and Harriet was soon assailed by half a dozen children, headed by a stout woman and a great boy, all clamorous, and impertinent in look, though not absolutely in word.
  13. fervor
    the state of being emotionally aroused and worked up
    In the few minutes' conversation which she had yet had with him, while Harriet had been partially insensible, he had spoken of her terror, her naïveté, her fervor as she seized and clung to his arm, with a sensibility amused and delighted; and just at last, after Harriet's own account had been given, he had expressed his indignation at the abominable folly of Miss Bickerton in the warmest terms.
  14. tenaciously
    with obstinate determination
    The young ladies of Highbury might have walked again in safety before their panic began, and the whole history dwindled soon into a matter of little importance but to Emma and her nephews: in her imagination it maintained its ground, and Henry and John were still asking every day for the story of Harriet and the gipsies, and still tenaciously setting her right if she varied in the slightest particular from the original recital.
  15. veneration
    a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
    But it is a pleasure to me to admire him at a distance, and to think of his infinite superiority to all the rest of the world, with the gratitude, wonder, and veneration, which are so proper, in me especially."
  16. disparity
    inequality or difference in some respect
    He is your superior, no doubt, and there do seem objections and obstacles of a very serious nature; but yet, Harriet, more wonderful things have taken place, there have been matches of greater disparity.
  17. disingenuous
    not straightforward or candid
    He feared there must be some decided involvement. Disingenuousness and double-dealing seemed to meet him at every turn. These letters were but the vehicle for gallantry and trick. It was a child's play, chosen to conceal a deeper game on Frank Churchill's part.
  18. complacency
    the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
    She felt all the honest pride and complacency which her alliance with the present and future proprietor could fairly warrant, as she viewed the respectable size and style of the building, its suitable, becoming, characteristic situation, low and sheltered;
  19. verdure
    green foliage
    English verdure, English culture, English comfort, seen under a sun bright, without being oppressive.
  20. zeal
    a feeling of strong eagerness
    She saw it all; and entering into her feelings, promoted her quitting the house immediately, and watched her safely off with the zeal of a friend.
  21. acrostic
    a puzzle with words reading the same down as across
    I had an acrostic once sent to me upon my own name, which I was not at all pleased with.
  22. irksome
    tedious or irritating
    I wish you could have heard her honouring your forbearance, in being able to pay her such attentions, as she was for ever receiving from yourself and your father, when her society must be so irksome."
  23. amity
    a state of friendship and cordiality
    It spoke such perfect amity.
  24. dilatory
    wasting time
    He always moved with the alertness of a mind which could neither be undecided nor dilatory, but now he seemed more sudden than usual in his disappearance.
  25. palliate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
    His companions suggested only what could palliate imprudence, or smooth objections; and by the time they had talked it all over together, and he had talked it all over again with Emma, in their walk back to Hartfield, he was become perfectly reconciled, and not far from thinking it the very best thing that Frank could possibly have done.
  26. engrossing
    capable of arousing and holding the attention
    But poor Harriet was such an engrossing charge!
  27. tautology
    useless repetition
    Methodical, or well arranged, or very well delivered, it could not be expected to be; but it contained, when separated from all the feebleness and tautology of the narration, a substance to sink her spirit; especially with the corroborating circumstances, which her own memory brought in favour of Mr. Knightley's most improved opinion of Harriet.
  28. reproach
    disgrace or shame
    Were this most unequal of all connexions to take place, on her must rest all the reproach of having given it a beginning; for his attachment, she must believe to be produced only by a consciousness of Harriet's;--and even were this not the case, he would never have known Harriet at all but for her folly.
  29. incongruous
    lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
    Was it a new circumstance for a man of first-rate abilities to be captivated by very inferior powers? Was it new for one, perhaps too busy to seek, to be the prize of a girl who would seek him? Was it new for any thing in this world to be unequal, inconsistent, incongruous--or for chance and circumstance (as second causes) to direct the human fate?
  30. consequence
    the state of having important effects or influence
    Who had been at pains to give Harriet notions of self-consequence but herself? Who but herself had taught her, that she was to elevate herself if possible, and that her claims were great to a high worldly establishment?
Created on Tue Aug 06 11:35:32 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Dec 17 09:12:34 EST 2018)

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