Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

(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 TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

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

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

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

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

carefully weighed

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

-ing form of “destroy” — do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

have supper; eat dinner

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

failure that results in a loss of position or reputation

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

at any time

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a miserable time for Mr. Warden.

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

destroyed or killed

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

proceeding in small stages

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

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

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

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

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

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

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

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

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

plural of “invitation” — a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a miserable time for Mr. Warden.

a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading It was a miserable time for Mr. Warden.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

a form of address for a man

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

not any; not one

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

above and across; more than

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

causing physical or psychological pain

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

by chance

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

determined

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

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

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

plural of “surround” — the area in which something exists or lives

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

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

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was a miserable time for Mr. Warden.

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

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

possessive form of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading On the first occasion he had gone with a faint hope that she had thought over his advice, and resolved to act upon it.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

a message informing of danger

From this reading But there had been no such result of his solemn warning, which had been so painful to him to deliver.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

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

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

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

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

during the time that

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

which person or people

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.

-ing form of “witness” — be a witness to

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading TOWN'S TALK Perhaps no two persons, outside that nearest circle of kinship which surrounds us all, ever suffered more grief and anxiety in witnessing the slow but sure downfall of a fellow-being, than did Mr. Warden and Ann Holland while watching the gradual working of the curse that was destroying David Chantrey's wife.

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading Now and then he accepted Mrs. Bolton's formal invitations to dine with her, and those few acquaintances who were considered worthy to visit at Bolton Villa.