Emma

1. vex (verb):

to frustrate or annoy

“Emma Woodhouse […] had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.” (Chapter 1, Location 48)

2. nominal (adjective):

filling a position in name only

“Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint.” (Chapter 1, Location 55)

3. natural (adjective, archaism):

illegitimate, especially in reference to a child who has been conceived out of wedlock

“Harriet Smith was the natural daughter of somebody.” (Chapter 3, Location 306)

4. inspiriting (adjective):

inspiring and enlivening

“With this inspiriting notion, her questions increased in number and meaning; and she particularly led Harriet to talk more of Mr. Martin.” (Chapter 4, Location 377)

5. gallant (adjective):

charming and considerate towards women

“‘If it were admissible to contradict a lady,’ said the gallant Mr. Elton—” (Chapter 6, Location 595)

6. obliging (adjective):

helpful and well-intentioned

“‘He is very obliging,’ said Emma; ‘but is he sure that Harriet means to marry him?’” (Chapter 8, Location 854)

7. charade (noun):

a type of guessing game in which participants provide each other with clues about the subject of their performance or riddle. The clues can be performed or written, as in Emma.

“He called for a few moments, just to leave a piece of paper on the table containing, as he said, a charade, which a friend of his had addressed to a young lady, the object of his admiration, but which, from his manner, Emma was immediately convinced must be his own.” (Chapter 9, Location 1033)

8. inducement (noun):

a pressure or incentive to act a certain way

“I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry.” (Chapter 10, Location 1261)

9. manners (noun, plural):

social demeanor or behavior. For example, manners can express politeness, integrity, or flirtation.

“I do not say it is so; but you will do well to consider whether it is so or not, and to regulate your behaviour accordingly. I think your manners to him encouraging.” (Chapter 13, Location 1659)

10. countenance (noun):

facial expression and mannerisms

“Some change of countenance was necessary for each gentleman as they walked into Mrs. Weston’s drawing-room—Mr. Elton must compose his joyous looks, and Mr. John Knightley must disperse his ill-humour.” (Chapter 14, Location 1729)

11. consumption (noun):

tuberculosis: a disease caused by bacteria that attacks the lungs

“[B]ut nothing now remained of it, save the melancholy remembrance of him dying in action abroad—of his widow sinking under consumption and grief. . . .” (Chapter 2, Location 2354)

12. connexion (noun, archaism):

contact or association, especially through marriage. In Austen’s time, people could rise or fall socially depending on their spouse’s connections. 

“And all the grandeur of the connexion seemed dependent on the elder sister, who was very well married, to a gentleman in a great way, near Bristol, who kept two carriages!” (Chapter 4, Location 2663)

13. construction (noun): significance;

the result of construing or interpreting something

“Highbury, with Mrs. Weston, stood for Hartfield; and she trusted to its bearing the same construction with him.” (Chapter 6, Location 2846)

14. divert (verb):

amuse, provoke to laughter

“For shame, Emma! Do not mimic her. You divert me against my conscience.” (Chapter 8, Location 3285)

15. condescension (noun):

patronizing civility towards those one considers one’s social inferiors

“Emma did not repent her condescension in going to the Coles. The visit afforded her many pleasant recollections the next day; and all that she might be supposed to have lost on the side of dignified seclusion, must be amply repaid in the splendor of popularity.” (Chapter 9, Location 3358)

16. scruple (noun):

doubt about the morality or properness of a proposed action

“Emma wished he would be less pointed, yet could not help being amused; and when on glancing her eye towards Jane Fairfax she caught […] a smile of secret delight, she had less scruple in the amusement.” (Chapter 10, Location 3542)

17. reproof (noun):

reproach; the communication of disapproval or blame

“Your allowing yourself to be so occupied and so unhappy about Mr. Elton’s marrying, Harriet, is the strongest reproach you can make me. You could not give me a greater reproof for the mistake I fell into.” (Chapter 13, Location 3903)

18. upstart (adjective):

a characteristic of a person who is new to money or power and is behaving in a disagreeable, condescending way

“A little upstart, vulgar being, with her Mr. E., and her caro sposo, and her resources, and all her airs of pert pretension and underbred finery.” (Chapter 14, Location 4068)

19. disposed (adjective):

inclined to perform an action, either through will or social custom

“Every body in and about Highbury who had ever visited Mr. Elton, was disposed to pay him attention on his marriage.” (Chapter 16, Location 4232)

20. direful (adjective):

dreadful or ominous

“They came from Birmingham, which is not a place to promise much, you know, Mr. Weston. One has not great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound. . . .” (Chapter 18, Location 4555)