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 Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

(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 Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

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

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

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

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

affected by blight; anything that mars or prevents growth or prosperity

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

brought into existence

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

call forth

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

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

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

at any time

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

a man of refinement

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

plural of “gentlewoman” — a woman of refinement

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

English novelist (1911-1993)

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

people descended from a common ancestor

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

immediately past

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

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

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

temporary living quarters

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

something that is lost

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

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

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

joined in matrimony

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a legislative assembly in certain countries

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

an amount of time

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

refusal to accept some authority or code or convention

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

get something; come into possession of

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

not moving or operating freely

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

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

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

a special situation

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

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

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

in the direction of

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

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

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

precisely as stated

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

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

From this reading HOW WE WERE VISITED BY TWO OF OUR KINSFOLK, OUR FATHER BEING DEAD; AND HOW THEY BEHAVED THEMSELVES TOWARD US.

at the time that

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

during the time that

From this reading To his great loss, he stood steadily for the king against the Parliament all through the late Rebellion, as he would ever call it; and, our mother's people being very stiff on the other side, and she dying while we were little children, we were sundered from them while our father lived.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

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

From this reading Our father, William Dacre, was indeed a gentleman, born to a competent estate, and married into an honest stock and to some fortune, but his fair prospects were all blighted and our mother's money well-nigh wasted before he died.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.

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

From this reading Think, however, that the troubles that now lie upon us might not have been ours had not our father died when he did, which was the cause of our being taken into the house of our mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Golding;--a happy thing we then thought it, that she would receive us, for we were in great straits;--so I will begin my history at that sad period.

a late time of life

From this reading He took such care of us as he could, striving to breed us up like gentlewomen; sometimes we lived with him in London lodgings, sometimes were left at his manor-house of Milthorpe; but the last two years of his life were very uneasy to him and to us.