Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

anew

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

capable of being answered

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

a distinct feature or element in a problem

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

the sensation produced by low temperatures

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

express strong disapproval of

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

plural of “consequence” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

someone who contributes (or promises to contribute) a sum of money

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

past form of “convict” — find or declare guilty

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

make right or correct

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

someone who leads you to believe something that is not true

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

one or the other of two

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

divisible by two

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

marked by or showing hopelessness

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

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

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

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

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

only a very short time before

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

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

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

lacking in or deprived of strength or power

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

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

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

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

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

based on or having the nature of an illusion

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

pretending to be another person

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

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

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

connect closely and often incriminatingly

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

immediately past

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

for more time

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

engage in

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

the officer below the master on a commercial ship

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

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

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

the condition of being essential or indispensable

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

not any; not one

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

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

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

the presentation during labor of the head of the fetus at an abnormal angle

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

on one occasion

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

having an owner; often used in combination

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

deeply or seriously thoughtful

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

skillful after much practice

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

remorse for your past conduct

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

-ing form of “represent” — take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

superlative of “sad” — experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

comparative of “subtle” — difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

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

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

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

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

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

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

having come into contact

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

in the direction of

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

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

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

conformity to reality or actuality

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

precisely as stated

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

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

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

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

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

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

From this reading It seemed now no longer a farce, but had a pathos which, though very different from that of its first aspect, was hardly less tragical.

which person or people

From this reading Knowing with what coldness, or at the best, uncandor, he (representing Society in its attitude toward convicted Error) would have met the fact had it been owned to him at first, he had not virtue enough to condemn the illusory stranger, who must have been helpless to make at once evident any repentance he felt or good purpose he cherished.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

in the company of; together with

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

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

From this reading The contributor had either so fallen in love with the literary advantages of his forlorn deceiver that he would see no moral obliquity in him, or he had touched a subtler verity at last in pondering the affair.

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading Was it not one of the saddest consequences of the man's past,--a dark necessity of misdoing,--that, even with the best will in the world to retrieve himself, his first endeavor must involve a wrong?

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet even if this theory were correct, was the second mate wholly answerable for beginning his life again with the imposture he had practised?