used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
anew
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
amorousadjectiveUS /ˈæmərəs/
inclined toward or displaying love
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
any thing at all
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
assentnounUS /əˈsent/
agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
Bella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
Chetwynd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
coyadjectiveUS /kɔɪ/
affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
enviableadjectiveUS /ˈenviəbəl/
causing envy
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
Ethel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
at any time
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
fixverbUS /fɪks/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
death of a person
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
haltingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/
disabled in the feet or legs
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
only a very short time before
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was stronger than himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
honestlyadverbUS /ˈɑːnəstli/
(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
set down according to a plan
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
nuptialsnounUS /ˈnʌptʃəlz/
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
prudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
express the need or desire for
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
term of address for a man
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
snailsnounUS /sneɪlz/
plural of “snail” — freshwater or marine or terrestrial gastropod mollusk usually having an external enclosing spiral shell
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The idea of seeing Bella again did not occur to him for some days, but when it fastened on him he could not shake it off.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It was stronger than himself.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was stronger than himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
precisely as stated
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
at the time that
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
worldlyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrldli/
characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
From this reading If ever a man was torn two ways, halting between prudence and worldly consideration on one side and the force and power of a love which he had honestly believed was laid for ever in its grave, that man was Sir John.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
but in spite of that
From this reading A week went by slowly: the hours crept like snails, and yet the days were surely slipping away, bringing nearer and nearer the one which was to give Sir John Chetwynd his second wife.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading He had hardly seen Lady Ethel since the evening when she had yielded a coy assent to his not (it must be confessed) very amorous request that she would fix an early day for their nuptials, and his state of mind was anything but an enviable one.
