Chapter X · Helen’s Debut

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

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

not being in a specified place

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

a positive feeling of liking

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

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

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

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

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

permission to do something

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

set up or found

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

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

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

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

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

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

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

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

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

urged or forced to action through moral pressure

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

of great significance or value

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

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

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

acquiring or coming into something (usually undesirable)

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

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

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

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

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

past form of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

past form of “occasion” — give occasion to

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

in an open way

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

approval to do something

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

at an earlier time or formerly

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

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

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

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

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At length Martha proposed that she should openly ask permission to attend the theatre in her company.

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

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

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

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

up to a particular time

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.

precisely as stated

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

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

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

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

From this reading There was one difficulty attending the carrying out of her plan which occasioned Helen some embarrassment.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Under any other circumstances she would have hesitated about taking a step so important with her father’s consent previously obtained, but now she was impelled, by her very affection for her father, to conceal what she proposed doing until she had taken the first step.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading How she could absent herself so long without incurring her father’s suspicions, was a problem which she found it difficult to solve.

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

From this reading She was to present herself at the theatre at six, and would, undoubtedly, be detained there until late in the evening.