Chapter XIV · Breaking It Off

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

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

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

someone who is a detective

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

having made preparations

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

presently existing

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

a social unit living together

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

impelled by physical force especially against resistance

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

set up or found

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

physically weak

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

enclose in or as if in a frame

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

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

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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 But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

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

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

at the same time but in another place

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

as might be expected

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

no person; not anyone

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

in a manner differing from the usual or expected

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

a human being

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

the family name of a line of English kings that reigned from 1154 to 1485

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

concerned with actual use or practice

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

on the contrary

From this reading |At Chiddingwick, meanwhile, Dick Plantagenet himself had been oddly enough engaged on rather opposite business.

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

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

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

in the near future

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

carry out

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

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

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

at or nearest to the top

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

precisely as stated

From this reading To her, very naturally, the question of bread-and-cheese for the boys and girls came uppermost in consciousness.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

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

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

at the time that

From this reading When he arrived at the house in the High Street, so long his father's, he found Maud flown, of course, and nobody at home but his mother and little Eleanor.

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But the widow, always weary with the cares of too large a family for her slender means, and now broken by the suddenness of her husband's death--thus left without Maud's aid--was disposed like Dick himself to take the practical side in this pressing emergency.

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.

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

From this reading Now, if Maud had been there, being a forcible young person in spite of her frail frame, she would soon have stirred up Mrs. Plantagenet to take her own view of the existing situation.