be denied

English translation: she [MRS Dashwood] was reported absent [see explanation]

10:54 Dec 25, 2022

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

English term or phrase: be denied

Hello!
Austen, Sense & Sensibility again.
Here is the case:
Elinor feels she has to visit her sister-in-law (Mrs. John Dashwood, i.e. Fanny), though she doesn't like it. Neither her sister Marianne nor their hostess Mrs. Jennings want to join her (although the latter allows her to use her carriage):

"The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself to pay a visit, for which no one could really have less inclination, and to run the risk of a tête-à-tête with a woman, whom neither of the others had so much reason to dislike.
Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could turn from the house, her husband [Elinor's brother John] accidentally came out. He expressed great pleasure in meeting Elinor, told her that he had been just going to call in Berkeley Street [which is where Elinor is staying in town], and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see her, invited her to come in."

I don't see what is meant here by "Mrs. Dashwood was denied." (Mrs. Dashwood here must be Mrs. John Dashwood, Elinor's sister-in-law; Elinor herself is mentioned as Miss Dashwood).

Thank you.

vitaminBcomplex KudoZ activity Questions: 249 (none open) (7 closed without grading) Answers: 0
Local time: 09:38

Selected answer:she [MRS Dashwood] was reported absent [see explanation]

Explanation:
To me it means basically means that Mrs Dashwood was absent, or more precisely she was said to be absent by the people who were in the house (arguably domestics) . If you look at it the other way around MISS Dashwood was told that MRS Dashwood was absent, whereupon her brother came and invited her in.

Selected response from:

FPC

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3 +8

she [MRS Dashwood] was reported absent [see explanation]

FPC

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peer agreement (net): +8

she [MRS Dashwood] was reported absent [see explanation]

FPC
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Native speaker of:

Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thank you. Happy New Year!

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be denied

English translation: she [MRS Dashwood] was reported absent [see explanation]

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English translation: she [MRS Dashwood] was reported absent [see explanation]

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