Hi, Ardith Hinton! -> Alexander Koryagin
I read your message from 20.07.2021 23:52

 AK>> What does it mean - "The fairy likewise enjoined me to conceal my
 AK>> understanding"?

 AH> The fairy strongly suggested, instructed, or demanded that the
 AH> Beast not let others know he was a handsome prince until after he'd
 AH> found a suitable bride who regarded his good nature as much more
 AH> important than his looks. WRT the word "understanding", I think the
 AH> author is referring to his comprehension or interpretation of how
 AH> the spell works & of how it may be broken. The terms don't appear
 AH> to be negotiable. But in this case they do enable him to be sure
 AH> who honestly loves him for the right reasons....

Although it would be interesting to find the meaning in some dictionary.

Longman's closest meaning is "agreement", but it seems closer will be
"spell".

-----Beginning of the citation-----
understanding
2[countable usually singular] AGREE an unofficial or informal agreement
 come to/reach an understanding (=stop arguing and agree)
 My father was furious at first, but eventually we came to an understanding.
 We had an understanding that Jean-Claude should never be mentioned.
----- The end of the citation -----

But, as I said, it is very strange to use "agreement" in the situation
when the wicked fairy condemned the prince.

Bye, Ardith!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2021

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