Sense and Sensibility: Chapters 41–50

by Jane Austen
In this comedy of manners — Jane Austen's first — Elinor and Marianne Dashwood struggle to make their way in the world after their father's death leaves them impoverished. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–10, Chapters 11–20, Chapters 21–30, Chapters 31–40, Chapters 41–50

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

words only definitions & notes
  1. improvident
    not given careful thought
    I wonder he should be so improvident in a point of such common, such natural, concern!
    "Improvident" also means "not supplying something useful for the future" and the "something" is usually money, which in Mr. Dashwood's opinion, is what Colonel Brandon had not carefully considered when he, instead of selling it for fourteen hundred pounds, gave the living of Delaford to Edward.
  2. surplice
    a loose-fitting ecclesiastical vestment with wide sleeves
    The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and living in a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure; and when to that was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in a white surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith and Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
  3. expeditiously
    with efficiency; in an efficient manner
    For the convenience of Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival.
  4. efficacy
    capacity or power to produce a desired result
    ...and when, at last, she went early to bed, more and more indisposed, Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her sister's composure, who, though attending and nursing her the whole day, against Marianne's inclination, and forcing proper medicines on her at night, trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty and efficacy of sleep, and felt no real alarm.
  5. obviate
    do away with
    Her fears, he had no courage, no confidence to attempt the removal of; — he listened to them in silent despondence; — but her difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness that seemed to speak the occasion, and the service pre-arranged in his mind, he offered himself as the messenger who should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.
  6. supplication
    a humble request for help from someone in authority
    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, and her hand was already on the lock, when its action was suspended by his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather of command than supplication, "Miss Dashwood, for half an hour — for ten minutes — I entreat you to stay."
  7. acquiescence
    acceptance without protest
    After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would best promote it, she walked silently towards the table and sat down.
  8. expatiate
    add details to clarify an idea
    I will not reason here — nor will I stop for you to expatiate on the absurdity, and the worse than absurdity, of scrupling to engage my faith where my honour was already bound.
  9. interim
    the time between one event, process, or period and another
    But in the interim — in the interim of the very few hours that were to pass, before I could have an opportunity of speaking with her in private — a circumstance occurred — an unlucky circumstance, to ruin all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.
  10. magnanimity
    nobility and generosity of spirit
    In that point, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity, as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw her miserable, and left her miserable — and left her, hoping never to see her again."
  11. dissembling
    pretending with intention to deceive
    But in this, our last interview of friendship, I approached her with a sense of guilt that almost took from me the power of dissembling.
  12. irreparable
    impossible to rectify or amend
    Her thoughts were silently fixed on the irreparable injury which too early an independence and its consequent habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury, had made in the mind, the character, the happiness, of a man who, to every advantage of person and talents, united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a feeling, affectionate temper.
  13. pecuniary
    relating to or involving money
    He would then have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they are removed, he now reckons as nothing.
  14. sagacity
    the trait of having wisdom and good judgment
    The selfish sagacity of the latter, which had at first drawn Robert into the scrape, was the principal instrument of his deliverance from it; for her respectful humility, assiduous attentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening was given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars to his choice, and re-established him completely in her favour.
  15. clemency
    leniency and compassion shown toward offenders
    Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without a pang; and his punishment was soon afterwards complete in the voluntary forgiveness of Mrs. Smith, who, by stating his marriage with a woman of character, as the source of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have been happy and rich.
Created on Thu Aug 29 11:59:37 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Aug 04 19:52:57 EDT 2025)

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