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 A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

Having no one else present.

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.

without doubt or question

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

detect with the senses

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

move gently or carefully

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

characterized by expression

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

opinion or judgment

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.

(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

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

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

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

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

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

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

communication between individuals

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

immediately past

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

go away from a place

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

ill-mannered and coarse and contemptible in behavior or appearance

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

a particular point in time

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

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

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

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

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.

a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

more quickly

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

a feeling of fear of embarrassment

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

in or at that place or location

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

in an unsteady manner

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

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

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.

at the time that

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.

showing curiosity

From this reading She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself.

plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

United States lexicographer who was accused of plagiarism by Noah Webster (1784-1865)

From this reading It had been one of the wonders of their intercourse that from the first, she, the quicker, finer, more expressive, instead of crushing him by the contrast, had given him something of her own ease and freedom; but now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to “jolly” the Worcester girls at a picnic.

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

From this reading In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him.