Chapter XIII · The Strange Courses of Love

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

third-person singular of “afflict” — cause great unhappiness for; distress

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

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

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

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

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

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

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

plural of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

brought into existence

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

a young person of either sex

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

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

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

intentionally conceived

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

a baby bed with sides and rockers

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

a state in which you want to learn more about something

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

apart from; not including

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

accept an excuse for

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

the organ of sight

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

a boy or man

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

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

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

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

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

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

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

not any; not one

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

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

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

somewhat ill or prone to illness

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

by chance

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

a human being

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

sounding as if the nose were pinched

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

only a very short time before

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

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

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

in or at that place or location

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

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

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

precisely as stated

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

at the time that

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

in the company of; together with

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

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

From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.

plural of “wrinkle” — a slight depression or fold in the smoothness of a surface

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.