used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
abusedadjectiveUS /əˈbjuːzd/
used improperly or excessively especially drugs
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
Cecily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
Cecily's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
cross-sectionadjective
representing a plane made by cutting across something at right angles to its length
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
feelings of ardent love
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
the state or fact of existing
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
Fliss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
focusedadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊkəst/
being in focus or brought into focus
From this reading Its light is focused on Cecily now.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
free-given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its light is focused on Cecily now.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
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 The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Its light is focused on Cecily now.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
MatthewnounUS /ˈmæθjuː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used to form the superlative
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/
reduced in size as by squeezing together
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
normalitynounUS /ˌnɔːrˈmæləti/
being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
on the contrary
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
the act of searching for something
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
spendsverbUS /spendz/
third-person singular of “spend” — use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
spotlightnounUS /ˈspɑːtlaɪt/
a focus of public attention
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
tornadonounUS /tɔːrˈneɪdoʊ/
a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The spotlight of circumstance is turned now on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In our cross-section of life, which shows itself the most beautiful love?
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is tormented and abused by life?
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The word love must not be narrowed or we shall lose the key to many a chamber of life.
