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 a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

a positive feeling of liking

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

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

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

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

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

a female human offspring

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

in a decent manner

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

in a disastrous manner

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

bring shame or dishonor upon

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

special importance or significance

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

give expression to

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

with appreciation; in a grateful manner

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

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

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

lacking discretion; injudicious

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

take in marriage

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

being roughly between 45 and 65 years old

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

with little or no delay

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

To recall to mind.

From this reading Mrs. Cupp had indeed reason to remember her mistress gratefully.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

a person loved by another person

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

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

From this reading She returned to London and presented herself to the ex-serving-woman.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

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

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

at the time that

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.

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

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

which person or people

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was her way to express her honest emotions with emphasis which italicised, as it were, her outpourings of pleasure or appreciation.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The old lady, who had then been a vigorous, sharp-tongued, middle-aged woman, had made the soldier lover marry his despairing sweetheart, and when he had promptly drunk himself to death, she had set her up in a lodging-house which had thriven and enabled her to support herself and her daughter decently.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading At a time when youth and indiscreet affection had betrayed her disastrously, she had been saved from open disgrace and taken care of by Mrs. Maytham.