used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
bloomnounUS /bluːm/
the organic process of bearing flowers
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
female equivalent of a count or earl
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
disgracedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡreɪst/
suffering shame
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
flirtationnounUS /flərˈteɪʃən/
playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
Ilfracombe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
indulgedverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒd/
past form of “indulge” — give free rein to
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
intrepiditynounUS /ˌɪnˈtrepɪdətiː/
resolute courageousness
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
a small worthless amount
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
the literary culture
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
Llewellyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
maidenlyadjective
befitting or characteristic of a maiden
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
Nell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
Nell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
Nora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
openlyadverbUS /ˈoʊpənli/
in an open way
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
PortlandnounUS /ˈpɔːrtlənd/
freshwater port and largest city in Oregon; located in northwestern Oregon on the Willamette River which divides the city into east and west sections; renowned for its beautiful natural setting among the mountains
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
puritynounUS /ˈpjʊrəti/
being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
Identical; not different.
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
smirching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
soberer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
soilingnoun
the act of soiling something
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
precisely as stated
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
whitenessnounUS /ˈwaɪtnəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
in the company of; together with
From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
womanlyadjective
befitting or characteristic of a woman especially a mature woman
From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
