regard

[Peter Jiong]

Now that we stand at a parting of ways (the phrase is hackneyed and you would loathe it), you must permit me to tell you what pleasure your regard has given me and how thoroughly I have enjoyed our intercourse, regretting always that inevitable circumstances made it so rare.

From Mrs. Craddock by W Somerset Maugham (1902)

What does the underlined sentence mean?

 

[Rover_KE]

.. how pleased I am at the respect you have shown me ...

Please note that I've added the date of publication of this book. If you quote from it again, please include 1902 lest other students think it's a modern novel.

Note that 'intercourse' in those days meant 'social intercourse' ('communication/conversation'). These days, most people only take it to mean sexual intercourse.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Now that we stand at a parting of ways (the phrase is hackneyed and you would loathe it), you must permit me to tell you what pleasure your regard has given me and how thoroughly I have enjoyed our intercourse, regretting always that inevitable circumstances made it so rare.

From Mrs. Craddock by W Somerset Maugham (1902)

What does the underlined phrase mean?

It means: what happiness your high opinion of me has given me. Or: Your high regard has made me happy.

When the speaker says regard, we understand it to mean high regard because of the context, which is warm and friendly.

 

[GoesStation]

Note that 'intercourse' in those days meant 'social intercourse' ('communication/conversation').

It was even acceptable as the name of a town.