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 At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

(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 At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

on or to one side

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading He certainly did not publish his woes.

a young person of either sex

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

relating to or characteristic of Christianity

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

a state in which you want to learn more about something

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

well in the past; former

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading He certainly did not publish his woes.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

disappointingly unsuccessful

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Men seldom do.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

divisible by two

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

worthy of imitation

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

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

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

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

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

inflected form of “imply” — express or state indirectly

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

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

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

engage in

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

the force of workers available

From this reading Men seldom do.

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

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

used to form the superlative

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

no person; not anyone

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He certainly did not publish his woes.

easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

put into print

From this reading He certainly did not publish his woes.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

not often

From this reading Men seldom do.

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

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

to a sufficient degree

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

express in words

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

lacking in sympathy and kindness

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

not obtrusive or undesirably noticeable

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

at the time that

From this reading All this, being town's talk, Christian already knew; more she had never inquired, not even when she was engaged to him.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

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

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.

plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading At the birth of a third child Mrs. Grey died, and then the widower's grief; though unobtrusive, was sufficiently obvious to make Avonsbridge put all unkindly curiosity aside, and conclude that the departed lady must have been the most exemplary and well-beloved of wives and mothers.

plural of “woe” — misery resulting from affliction

From this reading He certainly did not publish his woes.