Chapter XXX

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

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

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

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

provoke the hostility of

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

eagerly desirous

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

-ing form of “attain” — to gain with effort

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

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

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

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

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

according with custom or propriety

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

an opposing military force

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

being nine more than fifty

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

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

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

for this reason

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

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

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

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

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

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

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

all the time; seemingly without stopping

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

in the recent past

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

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

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

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 For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

engage in

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

plural of “measure” — any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

information about recent and important events

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

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

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on observable phenomena

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

past form of “occasion” — give occasion to

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

and nothing more

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

in an original manner

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

designed or carried out according to a plan

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

a high standing achieved through success or influence or wealth etc.

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

the quality of being able to cope with a difficult situation

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

take back by force, as after a battle

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

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

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

not in physical motion

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

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

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

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

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

soldiers collectively

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

to an exceedingly great extent or degree

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

extremely annoying or displeasing

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

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

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

becoming weaker

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

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

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

during the time that

From this reading For a long while, the difficulties occasioned by my reform measures had been growing more serious and the voices of popular complaint more menacing; hence I was anxious to find some way of diverting public attention.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

in the company of; together with

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading Moreover, the war with Zu, which dragged on interminably, was daily becoming more vexing; I still did not dare to antagonize public opinion by ending the conflict, as I had originally planned; and, to make matters worse, the enemy had lately attacked with new energy and resourcefulness.

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

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

past form of “wrest” — obtain by seizing forcibly or violently, also metaphorically

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

a dialect of Chinese spoken in the Yangtze delta

From this reading I therefore realized that, in order to regain the ground I had lost, Wu must retake the ground it had lost; and I understood that, in attaining this objective, my presence on the field would be the best stimulus to the troops.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading Already they had wrested from us a stretch of Nullnull seven yards deep and fifty-nine yards wide--a defeat which, though our papers did their best to conceal it, had somehow become public knowledge, vastly weakening my prestige.

evil storm god represented as a black bird

From this reading News from Zu Anxious as I had been to avoid complications with Loa, her coming had not been the only reason for my sudden decision.