used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
audacitynounUS /ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i/
A willingness to take bold risks; insolent and daring boldness that defies all authority.
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
conquerornounUS /ˈkɑːŋkərər/
someone who is victorious by force of arms
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
divisible by two
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
a young female
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
high-spiritedadjectiveUS /ˌhaɪˈspɪrɪdɪd/
joyously unrestrained
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
held dear
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
engage in
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
MelvillenounUS /ˈmelvɪl/
United States writer of novels and short stories (1819-1891)
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
OctavenounUS /ˈɑːktɪv/
a feast day and the seven days following it
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
principlenounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
resistingverbUS /rɪˈzɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
express in speech
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
strengthenverbUS /ˈstreŋθən/
make strong or stronger
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading To her surprise, he did not make himself half so disagreeable as she had expected.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
underlyingadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ/
in the nature of something though not readily apparent
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
unmanlyadjective
not possessing qualities befitting a man
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
belonging to which person
From this reading It may be that he, too, felt drawn to the high-spirited girl whose whole life was such a contrast to his own; or it may be that his heart was softened by the reports from the apartment of his grandmother, whom he had really loved in his own selfish fashion, even though he had tormented her in so unmanly a manner.
willsnounUS /wɪlz/
plural of “will” — the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
From this reading From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak.
