Really Regency

To Go Out With Someone

2010-09-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

"...I would only advise you, my dear, not to go out with Mr. Thorpe any more."

--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, Chapter 13

Perfectly Right

2010-09-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

[N]ow that she had been triumphant throughout, had carried her point, and was secure of her walk, she began (as the flutter of her spirits supsided) to doubt whether she had been perfectly right.

--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, Chapter 13

Content as "Trash"

2010-08-23T19:35:00.001-07:00

Let us leave it to the reviewers to abuse such effusions of fancy at their leisure, and over every new novel to talk in threadbare strains of the trash with which the press now groans.

--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey (Chapter 5), published in 1818 but said to have been written between 1798 and 1799, and revised in 1803.

To Be Sick of Something

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"I tell Mr. Allen, when he talks of being sick of (the place), that I am sure he should not complain ..."

--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey (Chapter 8), published in 1818 but said to have been written between 1798 and 1799, and revised in 1803.

Driving Speed! Very important, this one:

2010-08-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

Catherine, though she could not help wondering that with such perfect command of his horse, he should think it necessary to alarm her with a relation of its tricks, congratulated herself sincerely on being under the care of so excellent a coachman; and perceiving that the animal continued to go on in the same quiet manner, without showing the smallest propensity towards any unpleasant vivacity, and (considering its inevitable pace was ten miles an hour) by no means alarmingly fast ...

--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey (Chapter 9), published in 1818 but said to have been written between 1798 and 1799 and revised in 1803.

That's a Good One! (As Something Ha-ha Funny)

2010-08-10T05:17:00.000-07:00

"Did not we agree to take a drive this morning? What a head you have! We are going to Claverton Down."

"Something was said about it, I remember," said Catherine, looking at Mrs. Allen for her opinion; "but really I did not expect you."

"Not expect me! That's a good one! And what dust you would have made, if I had not come."

--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, Chapter 9

To Make Someone Out To Be Something

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"'Make me out, if you please, to be a villain.'" --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XXV

To Buy Someone Off

2009-08-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

"In every argument with her mother, Susan had in point of reason the advantage, and never was there any maternal tenderness to buy her off." --Mansfield Park (Jane Austen, 1814), Chapter 40

Many thanks to Shayne Parkinson, of New Zealand, for this entry!

Totally

2009-08-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

He was totally careless of his person and health, and, by repeated negligences of this kind, at last contracted a fever of which he speedily died. --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter III

"He would answer, but in such a way as to show him totally unaware of your true meaning." --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XXV

Scarcely

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I could scarcely recognize any lineaments of my own. --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter V

At a Loss

2009-08-16T03:33:00.001-07:00

I was at a loss in what manner to regard this sacrifice. --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XXXI

Total as Adjective

2009-08-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

Eliza's mind was quick, active, and sagacious; but her total inexperience gave her sometimes the appearance of folly. --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XXXI

Something "Happening"

2009-08-14T04:17:00.000-07:00

"What has happened?" --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XXXVII

Addicted to Something

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"Persons of his age are rarely fond of work, but then they are addicted to company, and sports, and exercises." --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XXV

"Pretty" as Adverb

2009-08-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

"You must confess that his appearance here is a pretty strong proof of the father's assertions." --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XXV

To Have Something Occur to Someone

2009-08-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

At length, it occurred to me to search out the house in which I had lately been immured. --Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown; 1799), Chapter VI

To Be in the Dumps

2009-08-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

"They lost a child lately. The young woman was in a huge taking about it. They say she was quite crazy some days for the death of the child; and she is not quite out of the dumps yet." -- Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown; 1799), Chapter VI

Everyday

2009-08-10T04:21:00.000-07:00

"I cannot imagine what could prompt him to so wearisome an undertaking; but he says that adventures and a destiny so singular as mine ought not to be abandoned to forgetfulness like any vulgar and everyday existence." -- Arthur Mervyn (Charles Brockden Brown, 1799), Chapter XLV

To Turn a Deaf Ear to Something

2009-08-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

I did not turn a deaf ear to these censurers.

Surprise! A break from Jane Austen territory. Some of the expressions you'll find here are from American literature of the same period. This expression, to "turn a deaf ear" to something, is in Chapter I of Arthur Mervyn, or Memoirs of the Year 1793, by Charles Brockden Brown, printed in Philadelphia in 1799.

To "Out" Something or Someone, Regency Style

2007-06-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

"I am sure I was in the greatest fright in the world t'other day when Edward's name was mentioned by Sir John, lest she out with it all."
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 22

To Do More Harm Than Good

2007-06-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

"[S]he does me a great deal more harm than good..."
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 22

To Put Up With Something or Someone

2007-06-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

[A]nd Mrs. Jennings's attempts at consolation were therefore unfortunately founded when she advised her daughter not to care about their being so fashionable because they were all cousins and must put up with one another.
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 21

"Hello" in Regency Usage

2007-06-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

She came hallooing to the window.
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 19

In General

2007-06-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

"[A] young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his friends to do nothing."
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 19

To Be Bent On Something

2007-06-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

To Forego Something

2007-06-12T06:02:00.000-07:00

[W]hen Willoughby called the same day, Elinor heard her express her disappointment to him in a low voice, on being obliged to forego the acceptance of his present.
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 12

Mutual Consent

2007-06-12T05:56:00.000-07:00

[T]hey were sitting down together by mutual consent while the others were dancing.
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 11

Out of the Question

2007-06-12T05:55:00.001-07:00

Will0ughby was out of the question.
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 11

A "Hop"

2007-06-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

Perhaps some older relations of yours have spoken about dancing at "hops" while they were in high school in the 1950s or 1960s, and perhaps you thought the word "hop" was the product of that era. Actually, the term far predates middle 20th century usage, as seen in this passage from Vol. 1, Chapter 9 of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811: "I remember last Christmas, at a little hop in the park, he danced from eight o'clock till four without once sitting down."

To Find Out Something

2007-06-12T05:19:00.000-07:00

[S]he soon found out that of all manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 9

To Be Sick of Something or Someone

2007-06-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

"Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be no such thing. My mother was quite sick of it."
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 2

Carried Away

2007-06-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
--Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811), Vol. 1, Chapter 2

To Be Off Somewhere

2007-06-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

"My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's immediate assistance; and we shall be off, I hope, in half-an-hour."
--Elizabeth to Darcy, in Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 46

Shocked

2007-06-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

"I am grieved indeed," cried Darcy; "grieved--shocked."
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane austen, 1813), Chapter 46

Express Mail

2007-06-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

"An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that [Lydia] was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers..."
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 46

To Be Something

2007-06-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment, she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 43

At Any Rate

2007-06-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

"At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse, without authorising us to lock her up for the rest of her life."
--Mr. Bennet speaking about Elizabeth's sister Lydia, in Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 41

As Usual

2007-06-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

[S]he entered the house with the wish of appearing cheerful as usual...
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 37

To Make Something Clear

2007-06-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

She could not think of Darcy's leaving Kent without remembering that his cousin was to go with him; but Colonel Fitzwilliam had made it clear that he had no intentions at all...
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 34

Being the Case

2007-06-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

"[T]hat being the case, I cannot consider your situation with much compassion."
--Elizabeth to Jane, in Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 21

To Be on One's Guard

2007-06-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

"What do you think of this sentence, my dear Lizzy?" said Jane as she finished [the letter]. "Is it not clear enough? Does it not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference; and that if she suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to put me on my guard?"
--Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813), Chapter 21

Oddity

2007-05-22T06:07:00.001-07:00

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

The Order of the Day

2007-05-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

"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

2007-05-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

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

Shocking

2007-05-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

"[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!

2007-05-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

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!