More Word Smart: How to Build an Impressive Vocabulary (2012)
Chapter 7. CLASSIC LITERATURE
If you find it difficult to read Dickens, you’re not alone; in fact, many people have mistakenly concluded that the word dickens comes from his novels being—well, a dickens to read. (That term, meaning “devil,” has actually been used since Shakespeare’s time.) However, reading Dickens and other pre-twentieth-century novelists is a lot easier if you know the vocabulary used. This word list will familiarize you with some of the more difficult or unfamiliar words used in classic English and American literature, particularly those that are still in use today, but with different definitions!
ANSWER (AN sur) v to satisfy a need
This is an example of a word that is typically used a bit differently in classic literature. While today’s usage implies a response to a question, it has previously meant more along the lines of fulfilling a need, such as in the sentence “Nothing short of a gentleman would answer.”
BARRISTER (BAR i stur) n an attorney who tries cases
This definition may seem a bit redundant to Americans, but in England’s two-tier system, solicitors perform all legal functions except trying cases, and barristers also try cases.
COMELY (KUM lee) adj attractive
This word is generally used for women, and is shortened from the Middle English becomely. The modern-day version is becoming.
CONDESCENSION (kahn di SEN shun) n to lower oneself to speak or deal with someone of a lower position
Though condescension is universally considered a bad thing today, characters in literature who were of lower classes may have considered themselves complimented to have been condescended to by a member of the aristocracy.
CONFIDENCE (KAHN fi dens) n telling of private matters in secret
Confidence is synonymous with trust or assurance today, but in classic literature it is more related to confiding in someone.
COQUETTISH (koh KET ish) adj flirtatious
A coquette is a flirtatious woman, and—in more modest times—this was not a particularly complementary description. The word also refers to a species of brightly plumed bird, and in fact shares a root with the word cock, or rooster.
DISCOMFIT (dis KUM fit) v to make someone feel uneasy
Though this word sounds like discomfort, the words aren’t really related. The original meaning of the word was closer to vanquish, and it may have come to have the meaning it does today through confusion with discomfort. Today, though, people are more likely to just opt for discomfort and leave discomfit out of the equation altogether.
DIVERSION (div UR zhun) n amusement; entertainment
Another word that is still around today with a different meaning, diversion used to mean a distraction from tedium. If you were enjoying a diversion, you could say you were pleasantly diverted.
FAIR (fayr) adj attractive
This word is generally used to describe women and is not in the same use today. It is now typically used to mean “light,” as in fair skinned or fair haired.
FIVE AND TWENTY (fyv and TWEN tee) adj twenty five
Reading classic literature can be confusing for several reasons, even ones as simple as how numbers are expressed. Two-digit numbers are generally articulated with the “ones” digit first and the “tens” digit second.
FORTNIGHT (FORT nyt) n two weeks
An abbreviation of fourteen nights, the word fortnight is generally not used in American speech today, but it is still in use in England. To express, “Two weeks from Thursday,” you would say, “Thursday fortnight.”
GENTLEMAN (JEN tul man) n man of superior social position or birth
Today’s use generally denotes a man with polite manners, but in more stratified social structures, the use is more rigid. A gentleman would be someone with inheritance and property (and thereby means to make money), and would possibly also have a title of nobility.
GOUT (gowt) n disease causing arthritis and acute pain
Gout was known as a disease that affects the lazy and wealthy because it is caused by the consumption of rich foods and alcoholic beverages (which, of course, would only be indulged in by the affluent). Most first attacks affect the big toe, so literary references to someone with a sore toe generally mean that the person is gouty (and therefore indulgent and lazy).
HERETOFORE (heer too FOR) adv before now
A word that barely survives today except in legal speech and on standardized tests, heretofore looks daunting—but its meaning is not too hard to remember if you break the word down.
ILL USED (il yoozd) adj having been treated poorly
This usage is similar to the modern expression of having been used, but today’s definition is more narrow (usually meaning that friendship is being traded for money, sex, or other favors). In an Austen novel, even refusing to dance with someone could be decried as ill use.
IN SERVICE (in SUR vis) phrase employed as a servant
Someone in service to a lady or gentleman holds a position of servitude and may even be described as servile. The root for these words ties it to the Latin word for slave, though there is a distinction between a slave and a servant.
LADY (LAY dee) n woman of superior social position or birth
Like a gentleman, a lady is distinguished by more than just good manners. She would not have been permitted to hold property or get an inheritance as a gentleman would, but otherwise the social distinction is roughly the same.
LIVING (LIV ing) n paid and property-owning position as a preacher or vicar
Making a living is a phrase in modern American speech that may refer to any job that provides a paycheck, but in much English literature it is used to refer specifically to the positions held by clergy.
MAKE LOVE (mayk luv) v to woo
Clearly a phrase that has changed over the years, the original meaning of make love did not involve sex. Instead, it meant “to express loving sentiments,” “to court,” or even “to flatter.”
MISSISH (MIS ish) adj overly sentimental or prudish
Because an unmarried (and therefore virginal) woman is called Miss regardless of age in Dickens novels, it follows that a missish person would be easily embarrassed and, well, generally silly.
MOLEST (moh LEST) v to harass
The word molest didn’t carry the same sexual connotations in classic literature as it does today; it could refer to any bothersome act. The act of molesting could be called a molestation, just as it is today.
OBLIGE (ub LIJ) v to do as someone asks or would prefer
Classic literature has plenty of instances of one person obliging someone with a song or marrying a particular individual to disoblige her family. The word oblige has several meanings, though, including to be beholden or obliged to someone. If you’ve ever heard the sentence, “I’m much obliged,” you’ve heard someone say that he or she is in another person’s debt.
PERSONAGE (PUR sun uj) n person
Personage used to indicate someone’s elevated status. In modern speech, it is typically only used to describe a character in a novel or other literary work.
PLEBEIAN (PLEE bee un) n person of lower class
The word plebeian dates back to the ancient Roman class system and is used in the same sense in classic literature. In modern usage, it might be used to describe tastes or attitudes but rarely people.
PORTMANTEAU (port MAN toh) n large trunk, especially one that splits into two equal parts
Portmanteau is not used in this sense any more, but is still applied to things comprised of two or more roughly equal parts. A portmanteau word, for example, is a word that is made from two other words, such as chortle (chuckle and snort), brunch (breakfast and lunch), and spork (spoon and fork).
PUBLIC HOUSE (PUB lik hows) n tavern
The origin of the word pub, this word refers to a house or building that is open to the public and licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Accommodations and other services are optional.
REPAIR (ree PAYR) v to retire or retreat, particularly to a calmer place
Of course, this word is still in common use, but its use in classic literature is different. After a particularly taxing ball, one might repair to one’s own parlor to rest.
SENSIBILITY (SEN suh BIL uh tee) n emotion or feeling
While this word may seem close to the word sensible, sensibility is more closely related to sentiment than reason. One who has sense, on the other hand, can also be described as sensible.
UNWONTED (un WAHN ted) adj unusual
When someone is wont to do something, it is his habit to do that thing. Unwonted, then, means outside of that habit. The word sounds like unwanted, but is not related.
VICIOUS (VI shus) adj imperfect; vice ridden
Today’s use of vicious typically brings to mind a snarling, rabies-ridden dog, but its original definition derives from the word vice and is the opposite of virtuous.
WANTON (WAHN tun) adj promiscuous
The definition of wanton as unchecked continues today in phrases such as wanton disregard. Older definitions also brought lasciviousness into play, and wanton as a noun means a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman.