Chapter XXI · Mary Arden’s Husband

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

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

the performance of a part or role in a drama

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

a female actor

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

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

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

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

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

excessively forward

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

for the reason that

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

past form of “care” — feel concern or interest

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

a special group delegated to consider some matter

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

hang freely

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

at any time

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

only a very short time before

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

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

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

engage in

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

having a crew

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

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 But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

joined in matrimony

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

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

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

a form of address for a man

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

and nothing more

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

showing reason or sound judgment

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Don’t act at me, my friend,” said Mary.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

plural of “straw” — plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

past form of “sweat” — excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

not feeling or showing gratitude

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

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

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

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

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading GIVE up the stage!” echoed Mr. Chown, assuming an appearance of thunderstruck amazement.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

which person or people

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

the least favorable outcome

From this reading He had; that was the worst of women; an agent sweated blood to make a woman into a star, and the thankless creature manned and retired.

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

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

a late time of life

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

but in spite of that

From this reading But Mary had not immediately retired and he thought he had reasonable grounds for hoping that she would continue to pay him his commission for many years; a woman who married well and yet remained on the stage could surely be acting only because she liked it, and Mr. Chown had a lure to dangle before her which could hardly fail of its effect upon any actress who cared two straws for her profession.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You must have had the probability in mind ever since I told you I was married.”