Sense and Sensibility: Chapters 1–10

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. bequeath
    leave or give, especially by will after one's death
    But her death, which happened ten years before his own, produced a great alteration in his home; for to supply her loss, he invited and received into his house the family of his nephew, Mr. Henry Dashwood, the legal inheritor of the Norland estate, and the person to whom he intended to bequeath it.
    "Bequeath" sounds like a generous verb, but Henry Dashwood was disappointed, when upon inheriting the Norland estate, he found that it was left to him "on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest" ("a gift of personal property by will"--compare to "legacy").
  2. moiety
    a part or portion of something
    Their mother had nothing, and their father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest in it.
  3. sanguine
    confidently optimistic and cheerful
    Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was at first severe; but his temper was cheerful and sanguine, and he might reasonably hope to live many years, and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the produce of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate improvement.
  4. forbearance
    good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
    She could consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance.
  5. imbibe
    receive into the mind and retain
    Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humoured, well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having much of her sense; she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
  6. annuity
    income from capital investment paid regularly
    "That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother while she lives rather than for them; something of the annuity kind I mean.
  7. superannuated
    too old to be useful
    I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is amazing how disagreeable she found it.
  8. indefatigable
    showing sustained enthusiasm with unflagging vitality
    ...when her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland;
  9. asunder
    widely separated especially in space
    It was contrary to every doctrine of hers, that difference of fortune should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of disposition; and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged by every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
  10. diffident
    showing modest reserve
    He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open affectionate heart.
  11. felicity
    state of well-being characterized by contentment
    I shall not lose you so soon, and Edward will have greater opportunity of improving that natural taste for your favourite pursuit, which must be so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.
  12. boisterous
    noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
    There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity of Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his mother-in-law was interesting.
  13. languid
    lacking spirit or liveliness
    How languid their conversation the last evening of their being together!
  14. odious
    extremely repulsive or unpleasant
    I abhor every common-place phrase by which wit is intended; and 'setting one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,' are the most odious of all.
    "Unequivocally" means "in a manner that is unambiguous, without any doubt or misunderstanding"--although Marianne says these words warmly to Sir John, she is very clear about her hatred, abhorrence, detestation (all synonyms) for specific phrases.
  15. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
    "You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied Elinor, "and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and insipid.
Created on Thu Aug 29 10:22:18 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Aug 04 19:13:07 EDT 2025)

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