Oddity

"He must be an oddity, I think."
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 13

The Order of the Day

"I should like balls infinitely better," [Miss Bingley] replied, "if they were carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of the day."
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 11

To Get Rid of Someone

Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and her great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 10

Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him...
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 15

Cars

So many Conquerors' cars were daily driven...
--The Vision of Judgement (Lord Byron, 1820), Line 35

Shocking

The sisters repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 8

"It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed," replied Elizsabeth, with tears in her eyes, "that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in such a point should admit of doubt."
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 47

To Hold in Contempt

That she [Elizabeth] should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 7

Really

"[S]he is not often really merry."
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 17

"But you really do admit the justice of what I have said in his defence?"
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 15.

Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder of his going so suddenly away...
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 14

But whatever might really be its limits, it was enough when perveived by his sister to make her uneasy...
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 4

"And you really are not engaged to him!"
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 4

"What brother on earth would do half so much for his sisters, even if really his sisters!"
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 2

"At present I know him so well that I think him really handsome; or, at least, almost so."
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter4

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her [sister].
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 7

"[Y]ou are really proud of your defects in writing..."
--Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth, in Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 10

[Jane and Elizabeth] were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them very wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 12

"Certain it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done anything to deserve to lose it."
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 15

Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them; anything was a welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had moreover caught his fancy very much.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 31

"I have told Miss Bennet several times that she will never play really well unless she practises more..."
--Lady Catherine to Mr. Darcy, in Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 31

"I shall not say you are mistaken," he replied, "because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you..."
--Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth, in Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 31

He [Mr. Darcy] seldom appeared really animated.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 31

[S]he must own that she was tired of sseeing great houses; after going over so many, she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 42

[I]t was gratifying to know that his resentment had made him think really ill of her.
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane austen, 1813), Chapter 43

It's Austen's Fault!

I blame Jane Austen for this blog: While reading Pride & Prejudice, it occurred to me that Austen is really fond of a particular adverb that writers today are really encouraged not to use. And, really, if they do use it, they should use it as really little as possible.

Yes, let there be no mistaking it: the really lowly, really cliched adverb in question is really. Really!

So it got me thinking: For all the Regency words and idioms we need a glossary for, what was used back then that has survived to this day, thanks to not just the English language, but to thinking in English? So I determined to gather examples of those words and idioms, along with their Regency sources, in this blog, which I decided to call--surprise!--Really Regency.

Enjoy!