Chapter VII

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

From this reading HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND.

in the past

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

(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 In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

English runner who in 1954 became the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes (born in 1929)

From this reading HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

permission to do something

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

a female human offspring

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

the act of departing

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

divisible by two

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

possessive form of “girl” — a young female

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND.

possessive form of “haydn” — prolific Austrian composer who influenced the classical form of the symphony (1732-1809)

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal

From this reading HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND.

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

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

plural of “hold” — the act of grasping

From this reading HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND.

deciduous shrub bearing roundheaded flower clusters opening green and aging to pink or blue

From this reading HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND.

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

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

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 In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

held dear

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

possessive form of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

a form of address for a man

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

past form of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

on one occasion

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND.

above and across; more than

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

an amount of time

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

strengthen or make more firm

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

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

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

an Italian title of address equivalent to Mrs. when used before a name

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

characterized by speed; moving with or capable of moving with high speed

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

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

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

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

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

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

From this reading She had obtained Eleanor’s consent to a speedy departure from Paris; that was the grand point.

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

precisely as stated

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

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

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

at the time that

From this reading In all this dreary period of sickness and misery the good music-mistress had grown to love Mr. Vane’s daughter even more than she had loved her long ago, when Eleanor’s childish fingers had first stumbled slowly over the keys of the pianoforte, in a feeble endeavour to master the grand difficulties of Haydn’s “Surprise.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Signora Picirillo was very well contented with her morning’s work.

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.

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

From this reading Once away from the scene of George Vane’s death, the young girl’s sunshiny nature would reassert itself, and little by little the great grief would be forgotten.