checked her laugh

[sosia]

Hello!
Las year I saw the film "Pride & Prejudice", I found it very good, and now I'm reading the book.
I encountered this phrase.
Pride & Prejudice, Chapter X of Volume I
"Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was rather offended; and therefore checked her laugh"

What means checked her laugh?
She was laughing and stop it?
She was laughing and made it not so visible?


the text
``By all means,'' cried Bingley; ``Let us hear all the particulars, not forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure you that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not know a more aweful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening when he has nothing to do.''

Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was rather offended; and therefore checked her laugh

complete text
http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/ppv1n10.html

thanks in advance

[Tomisimo]

One of the meanings of the verb to check is to stop, slow down, impede the progress of something. So when Elizabeth realized that Mr. Darcy was offended, she quickly stopped laughing. She may not have begun to laugh, but was going to and when she realized that she shouldn't she "checked the impulse to laugh". I'm not sure what it would be in Spanish, but I'd try with the verbs detener, refrenar o algo así. If you can, tell me how you would say this in Spanish. I'm always trying to learn something too :).

Webster's dictionary has lots of definitions for check as well:
Main Entry: check
Function: verb
transitive verb
1 : to put (a chess king) in check
2 chiefly dialect : REBUKE, REPRIMAND
3 a : to slow or bring to a stop : BRAKE <hastily checked the impulse> b : to block the progress of (as a hockey player)
4 a : to restrain or diminish the action or force of : CONTROL b : to slack or ease off and then belay again (as a rope)
5 a : to compare with a source, original, or authority : VERIFY <needs to check her facts> b : to inspect, examine, or look at appraisingly -- usually used with out or over <checking out new cars> c : to mark with a check as examined, verified, or satisfactory -- often used with off <checked off each item>
6 a : to consign (as luggage) to a common carrier from which one has purchased a passenger ticket <checked our bags before boarding> b : to ship or accept for shipment under such a consignment
7 : to mark into squares : CHECKER
8 : to leave or accept for safekeeping in a checkroom <check a coat>
9 : to make checks or chinks : cause to crack <the sun checks timber>
intransitive verb
1 a of a dog : to stop in a chase especially when scent is lost b : to halt through caution, uncertainty, or fear : STOP
2 a : to investigate conditions <checked on the passengers' safety> b : to prove to be consistent or truthful <the description checks with the photograph> -- often used with out <the story checked out>
3 : to draw a check on a bank
4 : to waive the right to initiate the betting in a round of poker
5 : CRACK, SPLIT
synonym see RESTRAIN
- check into
1 : to check in at <check into a hotel>
2 : INVESTIGATE <the police are checking into his alibi>
- check up on : INVESTIGATE <check up on a possible investment>

[sosia]

gracias Tomisimo. No me gusta mirar diccionarios mientras leo, me acordé luego del problema y lo escribí. Conocía chedked como comprobar, marcar, etc, epro no como detener. Respecto a la traducción, supongo que sería refrenar. Aunque sea español, no soy lingüista profesional
"Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was rather offended; and therefore checked her laugh"

Mr Darcy sonrió; pero Elizabeth pudo advertir que en realidad estaba ofendido, por lo que reprimió su sonrisa"

[Tomisimo]

Sí, el significado más usual de check sería comprobar, marcar o revisar. Este uso de checked como reprimir en realidad es poco usual. En cuanto al uso de diccionarios al leer, estoy de acuerdo. Me gusta leer sin interrumpir la secuencia de la historia y después consultar alguna duda que tuve.