Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

(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 She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

plural of “cough” — a sudden noisy expulsion of air from the lungs that clears the air passages; a common symptom of upper respiratory infection or bronchitis or pneumonia or tuberculosis

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

recognizable; marked

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

set up or found

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

a young female

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

engage in

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

on one occasion

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

with low volume

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

plural of “readjustment” — the act of adjusting again (to changed circumstances)

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading She had been reading, but her book was now closed, and she was lying quietly looking up at the blue sky between the branches.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

possessive form of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

two times

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

precisely as stated

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading She was lying looking up through the green branches of the trees.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

at the time that

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading She had, as Will Wentworth had said, heard all that talk about the Pelhams.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Her thoughts were not quite so quiet as her position would seem to indicate.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Whatever her class in life, she was certainly a delicate and honorable young girl; for at the very first, when she found that it was a talk between a party of friends, and they were unconscious of a stranger's near neighborhood, she had done her best to make her presence known to them by various little coughs and ahems, and once or twice by decided movements, and readjustments of her position.