All 30 Uses
acknowledge
in
Pride and Prejudice
(Edited)
- It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
p. 5.1 *acknowledged = recognized (agreed upon)editor's notes: This is one of the most famous opening lines in English literature. Austen opens with irony: the "truth" isn't universal at all—it reflects her society's obsession with marrying daughters to wealthy men.
With limited property rights and few ways to support themselves independently, women relied on advantageous marriages for financial security and social standing. In one satirical sentence, Austen establishes the social world her characters inhabit. - Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.
p. 18.8acknowledged = recognized
- Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness.
p. 24.7acknowledge = recognize or admit
- He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must acknowledge to be true.
p. 43.6acknowledge = recognize
- You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, but which I have never acknowledged.
p. 48.9acknowledged = accepted
- Mr. Darcy often acknowledged himself to be under the greatest obligations to my father's active superintendence, and when, immediately before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a voluntary promise of providing for me, I am convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him, as of his affection to myself.
p. 79.8acknowledged = recognized
- To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed.
p. 113.8acknowledged = admitted
- The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and everybody was pleased to know how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known anything of the matter.
p. 135.9acknowledged = discussed openly
- All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and after relating the circumstances, she thus went on: "I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil."
p. 147.6acknowledged = admitted
- The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, and telling again what had already been written; and when it closed, Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon Charlotte's degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding, and composure in bearing with, her husband, and to acknowledge that it was all done very well.
p. 155.8acknowledge = recognize
- His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity; and that her ladyship, after a while, shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did not scruple to call out: "What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam?"
p. 169.1acknowledged = recognized
- But his pride, his abominable pride—his shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to Jane—his unpardonable assurance in acknowledging, though he could not justify it, and the unfeeling manner in which he had mentioned Mr. Wickham, his cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to deny, soon overcame the pity which the consideration of his attachment had for a moment excited.
p. 189.7acknowledging = admitting
- Wilfully and wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged favorite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of two young persons, whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could bear no comparison.
p. 191.7acknowledged = recognized
- My objections to the marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have the utmost force of passion to put aside, in my own case; the want of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me.
p. 192.9acknowledged = admitted
- I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, acknowledged the whole to me.
p. 196.8
- In truth I must acknowledge that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not think anyone abiding in it an object of compassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings.
p. 209.1acknowledge = admit
- He acknowledged the truth of it all, and said that business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling.
p. 245.4acknowledged = admitted
- It was acknowledged, however, that he was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor.
p. 252.7acknowledged = recognized
- Their taking her home, and affording her their personal protection and countenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge.
p. 288.9acknowledge = recognize
- His first object with her, he acknowledged, had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation, and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to receive her, offering his assistance, as far as it would go.
p. 305.7acknowledged = said
- Had she not seen him in Derbyshire, she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no other view than what was acknowledged; but she still thought him partial to Jane, and she wavered as to the greater probability of his coming there with his friend's permission, or being bold enough to come without it.
p. 314.2acknowledged = admitted or stated
- The soup was fifty times better than what we had at the Lucases' last week; and even Mr. Darcy acknowledged, that the partridges were remarkably well done; and I suppose he has two or three French cooks at least.
p. 323.5acknowledged = admitted
- But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I acknowledge?
p. 324.7acknowledge = say
- Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth, where confidence would give pleasure; and instantly embracing her, acknowledged, with the liveliest emotion, that she was the happiest creature in the world.
p. 327.9acknowledged = said
- Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible.
p. 339.9acknowledge = admit
- Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it.
p. 345.9acknowledge = express
- I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that, had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly.
p. 347.4acknowledged = expressed
- The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent.
p. 352.3acknowledged = recognized
- The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent.
p. 352.3unacknowledged = secretstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unacknowledged means not and reverses the meaning of acknowledged. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- All was acknowledged, and half the night spent in conversation.
p. 354.3acknowledged = admitted or revealed
Definitions:
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(1)
(acknowledge as in: acknowledge her or the truth) express recognition or appreciation of someone or something; or to admit or express something
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(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Specialized senses include sending an "acknowledgement" (letter or other message) to indicate that something was received and the "acknowledgements" section at the beginning of a book where an author recognizes and thanks other people who helped in creating the book or ideas contained in it.