used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
(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 He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
allusionsnounUS /əˈluːʒənz/
plural of “allusion” — passing reference or indirect mention
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
react verbally
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
at or in or to any place
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
a youthful male person
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
Eaton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
GauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
graciousnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪʃəsnəs/
excellence of manners or social conduct
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
hansomnounUS /ˈhænsəm/
a two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
insistingnounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstɪŋ/
continual and persistent demands
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
and nothing more
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
Markham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
Markham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
soothedverbUS /suːðd/
past form of “soothe” — give moral or emotional strength to
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
soothingadjectiveUS /ˈsuːðɪŋ/
affording physical relief
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
make square
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
confined on all sides
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
sweetnessnounUS /ˈswiːtnəs/
the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
a special situation
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
in or at the place that
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
wrungverbUS /rʌŋ/
inflected form of “wring” — twist and press out of shape
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
but in spite of that
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
