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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

What do "pet vanity" and the sentence mean?

Hi,



Could you explain what the meaning of the sentence below? What do the words in bold mean?

"Like many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy, and she loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low cunning."

Thanks in advance,

Katie
  

Top answer

"pet vanity" = vanity especially characteristic of her, relating to a behaviour that she especially liked to cultivate. "diplomacy" = art of persuading people, mediating between people, etc. (the exact shade of meaning will depend on the context within the story).

— Mr Wordy

  • "pet vanity" = vanity especially characteristic of her, relating to a behaviour that she especially liked to cultivate.
  • "diplomacy" = art of persuading people, mediating between people, etc.
  • (the exact shade of meaning will depend on the context within the story).
  • g.
  • view=uk ).
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9 Answers
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"pet vanity" = vanity especially characteristic of her, relating to a behaviour that she especially liked to cultivate.

"diplomacy" = art of persuading people, mediating between people, etc. (the exact shade of meaning will depend on the context within the story).

"transparent devices" = schemes with an obvious purpose

"marvels" = usual dictionary meaning (see e.g.
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Below is the sentence in other words.

It was her vanity (which she liked to cultivate; give particular attention to) to believe she was endowed with a talent for conducting dark and mysterious negotiations between representatives or groups of state, and she loved to contemplate her most obvious schemes as wonders of low cunning."
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Thank you very much, Mr Wordy and hmea1! You both are very helpful!
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Hello,

I don't have the answer but I've got the same question as I am reading the adventures of tom sawyer now!
Glad to find your post and great answers there are.
Thank you :-)

Ami
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It was her believe that she could greatly deceive people with trechereous questions. She loved to think most cunning questions of her type but these weren't actually really deceitful
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thx.
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\____________/
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pet vanity as in a characteristic of her that is related to her behaviour that she usually likes to develop in a good way to make it better

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I am not sure but I posted yet it is helpful as I too am reading Adventure of Tom Sawyer

Very hard english

help required!!!

thanks 4 the post though;-)

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A specific quality that she is quite fond of and is over expressed.

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