Chapter II

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

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

later than; following

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

(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 I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading But I am sorry to say the appellation was quite a just one.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others

From this reading But I am sorry to say the appellation was quite a just one.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

eat an early morning meal

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

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

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

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

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

in a demure manner

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

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

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

divisible by two

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

the act of departing

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

unpleasantly stern

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

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

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

and nothing more

From this reading But I am sorry to say the appellation was quite a just one.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

joined in matrimony

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

characteristic of maturity

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

a form of address for a man

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

not any; not one

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

on one occasion

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

and nothing more

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

by chance

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

a human being

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

the condition of being prepossessed

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading But I am sorry to say the appellation was quite a just one.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

express in words

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

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

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading An unmarried woman!--that I should call my pretty Alice by that harsh, mature, common-place name!

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

a person, without saying who

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

to a small degree or extent

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

From this reading But I am sorry to say the appellation was quite a just one.

express a supposition

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

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

From this reading But I am sorry to say the appellation was quite a just one.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

(often followed by “of”) not aware

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

enter upon an activity or enterprise

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

not married or related to the unmarried state

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

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

From this reading “I suppose, Clare,” said Mr. Crofton to me one morning at breakfast, “that Alice Harley has made up her mind, like somebody I once knew, to live for other people, and on no account to permit herself to be married--is it so?”

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

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

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

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

which person or people

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I really cannot undertake to say whether she is like that person you once knew,” said I, somewhat demurely.

suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh

From this reading I had some hopes that she was--I was much inclined to imagine that it was a youthful prepossession, of which, perhaps, she herself was unaware, that kept Alice Harley an unmarried woman; but of course I was not going to say so even to Derwent, who, with all his good qualities, was after all only a man.