used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
matters of personal concern
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
any thing at all
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
creditornounUS /ˈkredətər/
a person to whom money is owed by a debtor; someone to whom an obligation exists
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
a female human offspring
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
give a description of
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
a social unit living together
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
GravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/
English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
go away from a place
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
LEVINGERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LEVINGERS VISIT ROSHAM.
take in marriage
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
NavynounUS /ˈneɪvi/
an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
not any; not one
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
remedynounUS /ˈremədi/
act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
ROSHAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LEVINGERS VISIT ROSHAM.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
not often
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LEVINGERS VISIT ROSHAM.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Seldom did Henry Graves spend a more miserable night than on this occasion of his return to Rosham.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading THE LEVINGERS VISIT ROSHAM.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
wickednessnounUS /ˈwɪkədnəs/
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The family was absolutely ruined—thanks to his poor brother’s wickedness, for no other word was strong enough to describe his conduct—and now it seemed that the remedy suggested for this state of things was that he should marry the daughter of their principal creditor.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading That was why he had been forced to leave the Navy and dragged home from the other side of the world.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading He had expected to find his father’s affairs in evil case, but the reality was worse than anything that he had imagined.
