Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

(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 All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

the condition of living or the state of being alive

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

react verbally

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

past form of “converse” — carry on a conversation

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

zealous in devotion or affection

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

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

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

being one more than seventeen

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

render capable or able for some task

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

a young female

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

only a very short time before

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

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

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

not any; not one

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

having a supporting base

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading Standing by the mantel-piece, smoking their cigars, they conversed with considerable animation, but not loud enough to enable her to hear all they said.

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

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

overabundance of words

From this reading All this verbiage sounded like a confused murmur to Mme. Favoral’s ears.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Her head heavy with a vague apprehension, it required her utmost attention to observe her husband and his guests.

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

From this reading She had herself a little girl, eighteen months old, called Cesarine, to whom she was devoted; and certainly she would have brought her, had she not feared she would have been in the way.

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes, no,” she answered, hardly knowing to what she did answer.