Welcome lords and ladies! Welcome to my humble abode. Though not literally an abode, more so a simple Tumblr post. But letâs pretendâŚ
This was all started by a simple ask (x) from a dear follower and I must say just how much I agree with them! Regency writing can be difficult to write about, even fanfiction can be a problem if you do not know what you are writing about! For me, a summary like this one is not needed because I sucked in everything I could about regency and its rules due to the extensive research I did, but for a reader who is looking to simply visualize works without meaning to do so much research like I did, my work might be confusing to read. Like for example: what in the world is the difference between a chaise and a coach? Why not simply use a carriage?!
Thatâs why here you will be able to find definitions for words that are highlighted in my one shots! Iâll go as far as to always link this post to the words; all with the meaning to make things easier for you so you do not have to switch between Tumblr and Google all the time.
Feel free to reblog this post if some words can be found in your stories too. Most of these definitions were found on many regency websites during my ventures into regency itself!
For more specific knowledge of regency, check out my #bridgerton archive tag. If you have any questions in regards to social customs among many other things, my ask box is always open for you to jump in and ask!
WRONGLY COURTED | A. BRIDGERTON
âDiamond of the seasonâ -Â Derived from âdiamond of the first waterâ an exceptionally beautiful young woman. In this case, the most beautiful woman of the season.
âThe Seasonâ -Â A period from April to August when it was customary for the countryâs elite families to unite for balls, dinner parties, decked in their finest attire. The season was also the time to launch children of a âmarriageableâ age â from the nobility and gentry â into society as debutantes.
âDuke/Duchessâ -Â The title of Duke was given to the highest ranking peers of English nobility below the Royal Family. A duke is the ruler of a dukedom or duchy. If the dukedom is an independent country, its leader may be called a grand duke. Originally all English dukes were of royal blood. Â
âMarquess/Marchionessâ - After the duke, a marquess is the next highest rank. A marquess is effectively the earl of an important border county (also known as a march). Since securing the border was such an important job, the rank of marquess is often considered superior to earl or count. In âWrongly Courtedâ the readerâs father is the 6th Marquess of Cambridge.
âBaron/Baronessâ - Typically the largest number of titles, a title after a viscount and therefore the lowest rank. Barons were the basic building block of feudal land ownership; holding land in barony meant that they acted on the kingâs behalf to own a chunk of land. Barons are not actually called barons, but are rather called Lord or Lady.  Â
âDancing two/three timesâ - A couple shouldnât dance more than two dances together, for example, or they would be the talk of the neighbourhood. Any more than two dances, and a ladyâs reputation would be under attack. Dancing three times is basically announcing that the pair is engaged! Also, at a dance, a lady could simply not ask an unknown gentleman to waltz with her, no matter how handsome he looked. Rather, the pair needed to be formally introduced before they could take to the dancefloor.
âChaperoneâ - An advocate for a young, unmarried woman in simple words. A debutante would be chaperoned by her mama. When a young lady did not have a mama, she may have looked for one to help launch her into Society, preferably one of rank and circumstance (e.g. Marina Thompson). A chaperone was not always necessarily one individual, like a companion. A young lady may live comfortably at home without a chaperone, as long as she was not present in Society. A chaperone for walks could be a maid, groom, relative, or anyone who could temporarily safeguard a young womanâs reputation. In âA Fair Matchâ the housekeeper Arabella is, though not mentioned, always a few steps behind the reader and Lord Thorne. ;) Â
âCurtsyâ - A form of greeting for females; the equivalent to the male bow; usually done with an outward bend of the knees with one foot placed behind the other while holding the dress away from the body
âA rakeâ - As Rege once said âA rake is a regency fuck boy.â, but in nicer words a rake is a man who was habituated to immoral conduct, particularly womanizing. Often, a rake was also prodigal, wasting his (usually inherited) fortune on gambling, wine, women and song, and incurring lavish debts in the process.
âA fortnightâ - A time period of two weeks.
A FAIR MATCH | A. BRIDGERTON
ânightrail or night dressâ - Practical and high-necked dress worn by women in the Boudoir or Bedchamber.Â
âdressing gownâ - A long, comfortable house garment that covered the night dress.
âto fretâ - To be nervous or worried.
âvexingâ -Â To be bothered with or annoyed by; suffering from or in distress.
âbutlerâ - The butler was the head of the male servants. He was in charge of the wine cellar and the householdâs silver and china. The butler also dealt with visitors and so had to be aware of social distinctions and proper etiquette. Unlike lower servants, the butler was always called by his surname.
âLadyâs maidâ - A very desirable position, the ladyâs maid served the lady or ladies of the house directly and were not under the housekeeperâs control. A ladyâs maid styled hair, helped her mistress dress and undress and maintained her wardrobe. She might also read aloud or massage her mistressâs temples when she had a headache. Ladyâs maids could be in the service of one mistress for decades and often cared for their employers when ill, which often made the ladyâs maid a friend and confidante to her mistress - the heroineâs close friend!
âEarl/Countessâ - An earl is placed just under a marquess. He is at the head of a county. In most European countries this title is instead known as a count.
âViscount/Viscountessâ -Â A viscount (from the phrase vice-count) is immediately below an earl. They were originally administrators and judges who ruled over specific regions of a county, hence the name. The main reason why you could easily write about Anthony spending most of his time in his study!
âhasteâ - Excessive speed or urgency of movement or action; hurry.
âtradition of sending flowersâ -Â If the man wished to get better acquainted with the lady heâd met, he might send her flowers the next day (but never gifts or letters;Â letters were only sent to one to whom you were engaged). A sign that lets a lady know she made an impression, usually quite the reason to celebrate because that usually meant someone was interested enough to pursue marriage.
âvisitingâ -Â Later, after he presumably sent flowers, a man could pay a visit upon the family during their âat homeâ hours when the lady and her mother or aunt or other chaperone would be present.
âgrotesqueâ - Adjective to describe sth. that is comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.
âknee breechesâ - A pair of menâs knee length trousers usually worn with stockings (similar to to modern ladiesâ leggings).
âLondonâs milieuâ -Â A personâs social environment. Used to describe the elite environment during the season.Â
âJaneiteâ -Â A fan of Jane Austenâs work
âreticuleâ -Â A small handbag for ladies made of fine fabric (silk, satin) that cinches closed at the opening with a fine cord.
âbonnetâ -Â A ladies hat that is usually brimless and ties with a ribbon under the chin.
âGretna Greenâ - Gretna Green is a village on the Scottish border that is world famous as a romantic wedding destination. First, over the border, it became a haven for young lovers following the 1754 Marriage Act introduced in England and Wales. You were forbidden to marry without your parentsâ permission if you were under 21. If you want to write something scandalousâŚthink Gretna Green.
RIGHTLY HIS | A. BRIDGERTONÂ Â
âpelisseâ - A long-sleeved ladiesâ jacket with a ž length worn in the 18th and 19th centuries.
âmodisteâ -Â A woman that makes and sells fashionable dresses and hats for women
âparasolâ -Â A parasol is a small umbrella used by women. As fair or pale skin was considered a thing of beauty, it fell upon women to protect their skin from the effects of the sun.
âcoachmanâ -Â Part of the staff whose job was to drive coaches (in contract to sporting carriages), such as the large traveling coach, a smaller town coach, a landau, or other coach. He also maintained all the carriages. A coachman typically lived above the carriage house. Like footmen, a coachman would wear of uniform of sorts. However, their uniforms were not the flashy livery of a footman. It was more subdued and included a multi-caped greatcoat to protect him from the elements.
âfootmenâ -Â Footmen announced visitors, served at meals, and attended the family when they went out (often to carry packages while shopping on Bond Street in much fiction). As their duties also included elements of the bodyguard or bouncer, footmen tended to be tall and imposing. Since they dealt with visitors, employers also preferred footmen to be good-looking.
âthe tonâ -Â Britainâs high society during the late Regency and the reign of George IV, and later.
âchemiseâ -Â The forerunner of the slip, the basic white linen garment underneath everything, often short-sleeved or sleeveless. Easy to wash compared to stays.
âstays/corsetâ - Less uncomfortable than those of Georgian or Victorian Eras and typically stays were worn instead of full corsets though the term corset was being applied to both. The ones we think of when someone mentions âcorsetâ today are the Victorian ones.
BEHIND THE BUSHES | B. BRIDGERTON
âembroidering lessonsâ -Â Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn, and embroidering lessons are lessons in which one learns how to do it.
âGreen Parkâ -  A fashionable place to promenade.
âtailcoatâ -Â A tailcoat is a knee-length coat characterised by a rear section of the skirt, known as the tails, with the front of the skirt cut away.
âtrousersâ -Â Originally worn by the working class, trousers became an option for the upper classes around 1807.Â
âsuspendersâ -Â Regency men did not wear belts due to the construction of their pants and the cut of their coats. Instead, suspenders or braces kept their pants in place.
âpaperboyâ -Â A boy who delivers newspapers to peopleâs homes.
âSpinstersâ -Â Spinster is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry.
âsolicitorâ -Â A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE | A. BRIDGERTON
âgroomâ - part of the outdoor staff. Unlike a coachman, who cared for and drove the coaches, a groom cared for the horses.
âsidesaddleâ - a form of riding where the rider (usually a woman) sits with both legs on one side of the horse. Riding sidesaddle was the epitome of genteel upbringing for the Regency lady. It provided a convenient form of transportation, a good method of obtaining fresh air and exercise, and a great way to socializeâespecially with gentlemen. Keep in mind that riding (and dancing) were the only physical activities a lady (one of upper class and status) could train and it effectively proclaimed oneâs wealth and status aswell.
âphysicianâ - during the Regency, physicians occupied the highest rung on the social ladder. Because of their extra schooling and lack of apprenticeship, physicians were considered gentleman. These men did not practice a trade and the profession avoided manual labor. Physicians simply diagnosed patients and wrote prescriptions, but they didnât dispense drugs. Physicians often received social invitations from the families they treated. They would dine with the families or spend the night as a guest. Other practitioners ate with the servants, if required. Keep in mind that only those who qualified as physicians could use the title of âDoctorâ.
âconsumptionâ - is tuberculosis of the lungs. Spread through the air, saliva, and blood. It causes weakness, fatigue, and in the latter stages of the disease people have a burst of energy and creativity. The disease killed more people in Britain in the 1800âs than smallpox, measles, typhus, whooping cough, and scarlet fever combined. Like many of the diseases mentioned, there was not an effective treatment for the disease.Â
âThe Royal College of Physiciansâ -Â the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1518, the RCP is the oldest medical college in England. A license was issued to all postgraduate residents, allowing them to practice medicine.
A BALL TO REMEMBER | A. BRIDGERTONÂ Â
âpolishingâ -Â mirrors usually filled rooms used for formal events as a part of decoration. Though attractive, their use was more practical than stylistic. Mirrors multiplied candlelight, so did shiny glass, crystal and polished metals, making them ideal for decorating. The problem with shiny things is, of course, that they donât stay shiny on their own. So lots of polishing and cleaning would have to be done in preparation for an event. That often meant hiring additional maids to help in the process.
âthe artistâ - in the case of this fic an artist would be a man hired to decorate the dance floor with chalked images. Though the dancers would destroy the images because they danced over them, the purpose of the chalk was more significant than it to be mere decoration. The chalk helped provide the dancers with much needed traction on the slippery dance floors.
âWhiteâsâ -Â Â the oldest gentlemenâs club in London, founded in 1693, thatâs considered by many to be the most exclusive private club in London.
âiced punchâ -Â Â between the dances, servants would circulate among the dancers with trays of ices and iced punch to help them cool down and fortify themselves for the next dance of the evening. Keep in mind though, punch was no childâs drink in the era, it was heavily fortified with rum, brandy and wine. A hostess would have to lay in a stout supply of both ice and alcohol to make it through the evening.
âDowagerâ -Â the widow of a peer, eg the Dowager Countess of Somewhere. The term was not added to a womanâs title unless and until the new (male) holder of the title married. For example, if the new Earl of Somewhere, the son of the late earl, is a young man when he inherits the title and has no wife, his mother continues to be styled Countess of Somewhere. When he marries, his wife takes that title and his mother becomes the Dowager Countess. The term is also sometimes used informally, and disparagingly, to refer to an older woman of the upper classes.
âdance cardâ -Â is used by a woman to record the names of the gentlemen with whom she intends to dance each successive dance at a formal ball.
INTRODUCE ME | A. BRIDGERTON
âcravatâ - a large square of lawn, muslin, or silk â often starched â folded into a long, narrow tie, worn around the neck with the ends tied in a bow or knot in the front.
âRegency introductionsâ -Â at a private ball, the most suitable person to perform the introduction would be the hostess or a mutual friend. As the gentleman is a guest of the hostess, to decline the introduction could be seen as an insult as he has already been approved by the person who invited him to the ball. In this fic, the hostess is Readerâs older sisterâs close friend, so itâs only natural that they scheme together to make the introduction happen. Also, if the introducer were in any doubt as to whether the introduction was acceptable, they should ask the lady or her chaperon beforehand to prevent any embarrassment. Thatâs why Readerâs mother was âforbiddenâ (âHer talks of how your mother was not to, under any circumstance, allowed to prevent his wish to introduce himself quickly evaporated.â) to mess with the introduction.
In a formal setting, a third party was always involved. The third party was recommending one person to another. At a private ball, no lady will refuse an introduction to a gentleman. It is an insult to her hostess, implying that her guests are not gentlemen. It is optional with the lady whether to continue or drop the acquaintance after the ball is over, but for that evening, however disagreeable, etiquette requires her to accept him.Â
Most important rule:Â 1.) A gentleman is always presented to a lady. 2.) A person of lower rank is always presented to a person of higher rank.
âdressing roomâ -Â if you wish to write about your heroine leaving the ballroom during the evening, make her go to the dressing-room to arrange any part of her dress (or hair or whatever). Also make her request the gentleman (love intrest) to escort her there. His duty is to wait for her at the door, and then take her back to the ballroom *wink* wink*. In the room itself should be a supply of hair-pins, and a workbox furnished with everything requisite to repair any accident that may happen to the dress of a guest. It is well, also, to have Eau de Cologne, hartshorn, and salts, in case of sudden faintness.
// MY MASTERLIST // AO3 //
