Pride and Prejudice — Historical-Language Mistranslation Prevention Glossary

The English of Austen's era (the Regency, around the 1810s) contains many words that have the same spelling as today but a different meaning. This document catalogues words that become mistranslations when rendered according to their modern meanings, helping translators avoid serious errors.

Risk classification:

[Danger] — The period meaning is the opposite of, or entirely different from, the modern meaning. A mistranslation reverses the whole sentence.

[Caution] — The meanings partly overlap, but the essential nuance differs.

[Reference] — An obsolete usage that must be understood for a natural translation.

A. [Danger] — Opposite or entirely different from the modern meaning

1. sensible

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	(1) Having good sense; judicious / (2) aware of something
Modern English meaning	Sensitive ← not the intended meaning
Example in the novel	"a sensible, intelligent young woman" (Ch. 5, Charlotte) = a judicious and intelligent woman
	"I am very sensible of the honour" (Ch. 19, Elizabeth) = I am fully aware of the honour
Translation	“judicious” / “sensible” / “fully aware of”
Mistranslation example	~~“a sensitive young woman”~~ → creates an entirely different characterization

2. condescension / condescend

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	A person of high rank stooping to bestow a favour. A term of praise.
Modern English meaning	A patronizing, superior attitude ← the opposite meaning
Example in the novel	"such affability and condescension" (Ch. 14, Collins praising Lady Catherine) = Lady Catherine's gracious willingness to lower herself
	"She had even condescended to advise him to marry" (Ch. 14) = she had personally stooped to advise him to marry
Translation	“graciously stooped to” / “deigned to” / “personally”
Mistranslation example	~~“such arrogance and patronizing behaviour”~~ → turns Collins's flattery into criticism
Caution	Austen also uses the word ironically. Collins means it as sincere praise, while the reader finds it ridiculous; the translation must preserve this duality.

3. nervous / nerves

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Having weak nerves / suffering from a nervous disorder (a medical concept)
Modern English meaning	Tense, anxious ← a different nuance
Example in the novel	"You have no compassion on my poor nerves." (Ch. 1, Mrs Bennet) = you have no compassion for my poor weakened nerves
	"she fancied herself nervous" (Ch. 1, narrator) = she imagined herself to have weak nerves
Translation	“weak nerves” / “nervous disorder” — not merely “anxious”
Key point	Mrs Bennet's “nerves” are a medical self-diagnosis (in fact an affectation), not simple anxiety.

4. nice

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Precise, fastidious, capable of subtle discrimination
Modern English meaning	Pleasant, kind ← almost unrelated
Example in the novel	Though rarely used directly, "a nice distinction" = a fine/subtle distinction
Translation	“precise” / “fastidious” / “subtle”

5. wanting

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Lacking, deficient
Modern English meaning	Desiring ← entirely different
Example in the novel	"No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting." (Ch. 31, Darcy) = no one who hears you can think anything lacking
Translation	“lacking” / “deficient”
Mistranslation example	~~“can think that anything is desired”~~

6. address (noun)

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	(1) Manner of speaking, bearing, or approach / (2) a postal address / (3) courtship
Modern English meaning	Predominantly a location or postal address
Example in the novel	"very pleasing address" (Ch. 15, Wickham) = a very pleasing manner/address
	"my addresses" (Ch. 20, Collins) = my courtship/advances
	"Jane had written the direction remarkably ill" (Ch. 46) = Jane had written the address very illegibly (here direction = address)
Translation	According to context: “manner” / “bearing” / “courtship” / “address”

7. direction

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	The address or destination written on a letter
Modern English meaning	Orientation; instruction
Example in the novel	"the wished-for direction" (Ch. 52, Wickham's address) = the longed-for address
Translation	“address” / “whereabouts”

B. [Caution] — A different essential nuance

8. handsome

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	(1) A person: good-looking/beautiful, for either sex / (2) an action or sum: generous, liberal / (3) a building: imposing
Difference from modern usage	Modern usage applies it mostly to male appearance
Example in the novel	"a handsome young man" (Bingley) = good-looking / "handsome modern building" (Rosings) = an imposing building / "a very handsome thought" (Collins praising Darcy) = a fine/generous thought
Translation	Person: “handsome/beautiful” / building: “imposing/fine” / action: “fine/generous”

9. civil / civility

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Polite, but only minimally courteous; it need not be sincere
Difference from modern usage	Similar today, but Austen clearly distinguishes “civil” from “warm/cordial”
Example in the novel	"with cold civility" (Ch. 46, Elizabeth to Darcy) = with cold politeness
	"civil disdain" (Ch. 18, Miss Bingley) = polite disdain — an intentional oxymoron
Translation	“civil/polite”; where insincerity matters, “formal” or “perfunctory”
Scale	civil (minimum) < polite (standard) < courteous < warm < cordial (sincere)

10. consequence

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Social importance, standing, or status
Modern English meaning	Result, outcome
Example in the novel	"give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men" (Ch. 3, Darcy) = make young ladies whom other men slight feel important
	"a man of consequence" = a man of standing/importance
Translation	“standing” / “importance” / “status,” according to context

11. intelligence

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	News, information
Modern English meaning	Intellectual ability
Example in the novel	"the great intelligence" (Ch. 30, Collins announcing Darcy's arrival) = this momentous news
	"fresher intelligence of her former friends" (Ch. 25) = more recent news of her former friends
Translation	“news” / “information” / “tidings”

12. design

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Intention, plan, or scheme
Modern English meaning	Visual or functional design
Example in the novel	"Is that his design in settling here?" (Ch. 1, Mr Bennet) = is that his intention in settling here?
	"without any design" (Ch. 22, Jane) = without any scheme/ulterior motive
Translation	“intention” / “plan” / “ulterior motive”

13. countenance

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	(1) Face, complexion, expression / (2) to support or approve
Modern English meaning	Face (now uncommon)
Example in the novel	"a fine countenance" (Wickham) = a fine face/appearance
	"Bingley could keep his countenance" (Ch. 9) = Bingley could keep a straight face
Translation	“expression” / “complexion” / “appearance”

14. character

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	(1) Personality / (2) reputation, public estimation — both senses may operate together
Example in the novel	"His character was decided." (Ch. 3) = his reputation was settled (= he was judged proud)
	"Wickham's character" = Wickham's true nature/reputation (reversed later in the novel)
Translation	Distinguish “personality” from “reputation” by context; where both operate, use a term meaning “the kind of man he is”

15. establishment

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	(1) A settled home through marriage / (2) an independent basis for life in general
Example in the novel	"what an establishment it would be for one of them" (Ch. 1) = what a fine settlement/home it would provide for one daughter
	"the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment" (Ch. 22, Charlotte) = the pure desire to secure a settled home
Translation	“settlement” / “a home of her own” / “an established household” — not “facility”

16. connexion(s) / connection(s)

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Relations, family ties, social connections
Modern English meaning	Connection in a general sense
Example in the novel	"low connexions" (Darcy) = low relations/connections (= a merchant uncle and an attorney uncle)
	"the connexion was a most unhappy one" = that family connection by marriage was a very unfortunate one
Translation	“connections” / “relations” / “family ties”

17. amiable

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	Lovable, pleasing, good-natured — stronger praise than modern “amicable”
Example in the novel	"she is one of the most tractable creatures... a very great favourite" (Ch. 33, Elizabeth's assessment of Georgiana)
	"the most amiable man of my acquaintance" (Ch. 24, Jane on Bingley) = the most lovable man I know
Translation	“lovable” / “good-natured” / “pleasing”

18. agreeable

Item	Details
Meaning in Austen's era	A pleasant person; enjoyable company
Example in the novel	"If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long" (Ch. 5, Mrs Bennet) = if he had been so pleasant, he would have spoken to Mrs Long
Translation	“pleasant” / “agreeable” / “good company”
Scale	disagreeable < tolerable < agreeable < amiable

C. [Reference] — Obsolete usages

19. complaisance / complaisant

Item	Details
Meaning	A willing, accommodating disposition intended to please others
Do not confuse with	“complacency” (self-satisfaction)
Example in the novel	"his complaisance" (Ch. 6) = his obliging manner

20. propriety / impropriety

Item	Details
Meaning	Proper conduct, decorum, behaviour befitting one's station — not merely abstract appropriateness, but compliance with social norms
Example in the novel	"want of propriety" (Darcy's letter criticizing the Bennet family) = a lack of decorum
Translation	“decorum” / “propriety” / “respectability”

21. scheme

Item	Details
Meaning	A plan, more neutral than the modern negative sense of “plot”
Example in the novel	"No scheme could have been more agreeable" (Ch. 27, travel plan) = no plan could have been more pleasant
Translation	“plan” / “arrangement” — not necessarily negative

22. apprehension

Item	Details
Meaning	(1) Understanding, perception / (2) anxiety — Austen uses sense (1) more often
Example in the novel	"I had no apprehension of his feeling a serious attachment" (Ch. 35, Darcy's letter) = I did not perceive that he felt a serious attachment
Translation	“perception” / “understanding”; use “anxiety” only where that sense applies

23. complaint

Item	Details
Meaning	(1) A grievance / (2) an illness or ailment
Example in the novel	"nervous complaints" (Mrs Bennet) = nervous ailments
Translation	Check the context; for Mrs Bennet it always means “ailment”

24. prospect

Item	Details
Meaning	(1) A literal view or vista / (2) a future prospect
Example in the novel	"a charming prospect over that gravel walk" (Ch. 9) = a charming view beyond the gravel walk
Translation	In a building/window context, “view/vista”; in a future context, “prospect/possibility”

25. natural

Item	Details
Meaning	(1) Natural / (2) naturalistic (landscaping) / (3) illegitimate (rare) / (4) innate
Example in the novel	"natural beauty" (Pemberley landscaping) = beauty preserving a naturalistic aesthetic, not artificial
	"a sort of natural self-consequence" (Lydia) = a kind of innate self-importance
Translation	Distinguish by context. Pemberley's “natural” is a term from naturalistic aesthetics.

D. Scale of evaluative adjectives — Preserve intensity in translation

The adjectives Austen uses to describe people form a precise scale:

Positive scale (weak → strong)

tolerable (barely acceptable, so-so) ← lowest — Darcy's assessment of Elizabeth
  ↓
civil (polite) ← the ceremonial minimum
  ↓
agreeable (pleasant; good company)
  ↓
pleasing (likeable)
  ↓
amiable (lovable, good-natured)
  ↓
charming
  ↓
delightful (giving pleasure)
  ↓
excellent ← highest

Negative scale (weak → strong)

not very agreeable (not particularly pleasant) ← British understatement
  ↓
disagreeable
  ↓
unpleasant (more direct)
  ↓
ill-natured
  ↓
proud ← applied to Darcy
  ↓
insolent
  ↓
abominable
  ↓
despicable ← strongest — Elizabeth's self-condemnation

Translation principles

Preserve the same differences in intensity in the target language.
Rendering both “tolerable” and “agreeable” as “fine” destroys the scale.
Rendering both “civil” and “amiable” as “kind” erases the difference in relational warmth.

E. British understatement — The most frequent source of mistranslation

Austen uses double negatives, minimization, and understatement extremely often. Literal translation erases the nuance.

Original pattern	Surface meaning	Actual meaning	Translation guidance
"not unpleasing"	not displeasing	fairly pleasant	Resolve the double negative but keep the force mild: “not bad”
"not without"	not lacking	definitely present	“there certainly was...”
"she could not help"	could not refrain from	she did it (strong impulse)	Preserve the negative construction where natural: “could not help...”
"I dare say"	I venture to say	probably so (light conjecture)	“probably” / “I suppose”
"I am sure"	certainly	I think (often a habitual flourish, not certainty)	In Mrs Bennet's speech, use emphatic but groundless certainty: “I am certain...”
"something like regret"	something resembling regret	regret she is reluctant to acknowledge	Keep “something like regret”; do not state flatly that it is regret
"not entirely hopeless"	not completely without hope	there is a little hope	“not entirely without hope”
"I fancy"	I imagine	it seems to me (light conjecture)	“I think” / “it seems”
"by no means"	by no method	absolutely not (strong negation)	“by no means” / “certainly not”
"tolerable/tolerably"	bearable	only just acceptable (not praise)	“so-so” / “passable”

F. Period nuances of verbs

Verb	Meaning in Austen's era	Modern meaning	Example in the novel	Translation
to own	To acknowledge, admit	To possess	"I own I was surprised" = I admit I was surprised	“admit” / “acknowledge”
to engage	(1) to promise or arrange (2) to employ (3) to occupy the attention	Primarily to become betrothed	"she was engaged elsewhere" = she had another engagement	Check context
to want	To lack / need	To desire	"want of propriety" = lack of decorum	“lack” / “absence”
to wait on	To visit formally	To wait / serve	"to wait on Mr. Bingley" = to call on Mr Bingley	“call on” / “pay one's respects to”
to make out	To understand, comprehend	To discern / kiss passionately	"I cannot make him out" = I cannot understand him	“understand” / “make sense of”
to recollect	To call consciously to mind	Now largely synonymous with remember	In Austen, it carries the nuance of deliberately recalling	“recollect” / “call to mind”
to flatter oneself	To pride oneself (often mistakenly)	To compliment oneself	"I flatter myself that..." = I venture to pride myself that...	“pride oneself” — often ironic
to trifle with	To play with; treat lightly	—	"You are too generous to trifle with me" = you are not base enough to play with my feelings	“play with” / “toy with”

G. Pairs that must never be confused in translation

Pair	Difference	Result of confusion
pride vs vanity	pride = one's opinion of oneself; vanity = what one wishes others to think (Mary's definition, Ch. 5)	Destroys a central distinction in the novel's title and theme
sense vs sensibility	sense = reason/judgment; sensibility = emotional sensitivity/feeling	Erases the contrast between Jane (sensibility) and Elizabeth (sense)
civil vs polite vs amiable	civil = minimum courtesy; polite = standard courtesy; amiable = sincere liking	Erases differences in relational warmth
fortune vs income	fortune = total capital; income = annual revenue	Misreads economic scale: Bingley's £100,000 versus £4,000–5,000 a year
trade vs profession	trade = commerce (lower status); profession = learned profession (higher status)	Erases a subtle distinction in class prejudice
living vs life	living = clerical benefice/parish income; life = existence	Reverses the heart of the Darcy–Wickham conflict
interesting	In Austen: engaging or moving, stronger than modern casual usage	Translating “most interesting” as merely “fun” weakens the emotional force