Chapter III

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading He looked almost mortified, but still he murmur’d as if mechanically.

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

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

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

relatively low in price or charging low prices

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

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

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

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

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

at any time

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

in a faint and feeble manner

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

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

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

engage or hire for work

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

plural of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

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

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading “It is wimmen’s place to marry and not to vote.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

immediately past

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

the sound of laughing

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He looked almost mortified, but still he murmur’d as if mechanically.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

joined in matrimony

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

take in marriage

From this reading “It is wimmen’s place to marry and not to vote.”

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism

From this reading He looked almost mortified, but still he murmur’d as if mechanically.

freedom from vanity or conceit

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

suffering from tissue death

From this reading He looked almost mortified, but still he murmur’d as if mechanically.

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

From this reading He looked almost mortified, but still he murmur’d as if mechanically.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

not any; not one

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

relating to or involving money

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading “It is wimmen’s place to marry and not to vote.”

the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

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

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

past form of “rent” — let for money

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

having a specified size

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

not in physical motion

From this reading He looked almost mortified, but still he murmur’d as if mechanically.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

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

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

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

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

a choice that is made by counting the number of people in favor of each alternative

From this reading “It is wimmen’s place to marry and not to vote.”

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

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

From this reading “It is wimmen’s place to marry and not to vote.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?

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

From this reading He meant this last, about hirin’ a husband, as a joke, for he smiled feebly as he said it, and in other and happier times stern duty would have compelled me to laugh at it--but not now, oh no, my breast was heavin’ with too many different sized emotions.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Oh no,” says I, as sarcastic as sarcastic could be, and then I added sternly, “If it ever does come in fashion to hire husbands by the year, I know of one that could be rented cheap, if his wife had the proceeds and avails in a pecuniary sense.”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You would hire one, would you? a woman don’t lose her dignity and modesty a racin’ round tryin’ to get married, does she?