Chapter X · Chapter 10

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

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

feeling embarrassed due to modesty

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

anew

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

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

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

in a state of sleep

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

in a bland manner

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

terminate

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

a long trough for feeding cattle

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

someone who is morally reprehensible

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

an inferior dog or one of mixed breed

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

a female human offspring

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

the first light of day

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

a deliberate act of omission

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

run away quickly

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

a newspaper or official journal

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

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

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

plural of “interlude” — an intervening period or episode

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

plural of “lane” — a narrow way or road

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

immediately past

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

the literary culture

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

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 The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

come together

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

showing or giving mercy

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

to bring or combine together or with something else

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

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

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

not any; not one

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

on one occasion

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

cause to suffer a blight

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

-ing form of “proffer” — present for acceptance or rejection

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

past form of “punctuate” — insert punctuation marks into

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

a slow or gradual disappearance

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

past form of “rehearse” — engage in a rehearsal

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

cut with a saw

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

express in words

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

with suavity; in a suave manner

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

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

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

in the direction of

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

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

From this reading THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE PLAYS A CARD FROM HIS SLEEVE Varney slept badly.

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

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

at the time that

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

a Caucasian

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity

From this reading The night was long, like art and the lanes that have no turning; and interludes punctuated it, now and again, when he lay wide-eyed in his bunk, staring into the darkness.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At last he saw the dawn break along the horizon and the gray of a new day meet and mingle with the receding darkness.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading He fell asleep, woke again, rehearsed once more what he would say to her.

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

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading At these times without exception, he thought how, early in the morning, he would climb the hill to the white house, blandly proffering letters to show that he was no cad, no cur, but Laurence Varney, whom ladies need not flee from as from the plague; suavely putting Uncle Elbert's daughter so utterly in the wrong that he himself would grow merciful towards her abashment, and sorry.