Chapter XXXVIII

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

From this reading 9, 1780.

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

From this reading 9, 1780.

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

speak to

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

experiencing a sudden sense of danger

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

(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 Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

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

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading TO MISS C----.

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

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

dearly loved

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the state of being honored

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

plural of “meditation” — continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading TO MISS C----.

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used to form the superlative

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the time that has elapsed

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

a formal and solemn declaration of objection

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Saturday, Sept.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading Saturday, Sept.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

plural of “situation” — the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

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

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

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

From this reading TO MISS C----.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

precisely as stated

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

at the time that

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

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

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

hope for; have a wish

From this reading Are they all well, and happy as friendship could wish them?

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading DEAR MISS, I HAVE the honour to address you upon a very interesting, serious, critical subject.--Do not be alarmed! it is an affair which I have had at heart some days past--it has employed my meditations more than my prayers.--Now, I protest, I feel myself in the most aukward of situations--but it must out--and so let it.--But how does my good, my half-adored Mrs. C----? and how does Miss A----? and when did you see my worthy Mrs. R----?