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 But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

plural of “admonition” — cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness)

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

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

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

plural of “appliance” — a device or control that is very useful for a particular job

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

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

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

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

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

shockingly brutal or cruel

From this reading To be beaten herself would have seemed to her less atrocious, less humiliating.

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

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

formed or made thin by hammering

From this reading To be beaten herself would have seemed to her less atrocious, less humiliating.

a youthful male person

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

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

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

a stick that people can lean on to help them walk

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

prepared by cutting

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

not invading healthy tissue

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

an urgent or peremptory request

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

extravagant exaggeration

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

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

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

preferred above all others and treated with partiality

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

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

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

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

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

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

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

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

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

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

From this reading To be beaten herself would have seemed to her less atrocious, less humiliating.

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

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

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

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

causing awareness of your shortcomings

From this reading To be beaten herself would have seemed to her less atrocious, less humiliating.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

-ing form of “impress” — have an emotional or cognitive impact upon

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

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

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

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

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading To be beaten herself would have seemed to her less atrocious, less humiliating.

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

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

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

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

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

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

used to form the superlative

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

absolutely essential

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

on the contrary

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

plural of “reprimand” — an act or expression of criticism and censure

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

cut with a saw

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

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

From this reading To be beaten herself would have seemed to her less atrocious, less humiliating.

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

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

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

get rid of

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

a male human offspring

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

to a sufficient degree

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

separate or cause to separate abruptly

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

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

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

in or at that place or location

From this reading Havre is not far off; and cabin-boys are always in demand there.”

for that reason; as a result

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

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

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

without pity; in a merciless manner

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

precisely as stated

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

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

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

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

From this reading If, at least, he had confined himself to these admonitions, which, by their very exaggeration, failed in their object!

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading The first time that Mme. Favoral saw her son struck, she was seized with one of those wild fits of anger which do not reason, and never forgive.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

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

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading But he favored mechanical appliances as a necessary means of sufficiently impressing reprimands upon the minds of young people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he would beat poor Maxence most unmercifully, the more so that the boy, filled with pride, would have allowed himself to be chopped to pieces rather than utter a cry, or shed a tear.