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 Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

in addition

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

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

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

great and constant diligence and attention

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

past form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

a small house with a single story

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

true confidential information

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

coming next after the seventh and just before the ninth in position

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

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

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

a person responsible for the administration of a business

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

the period of greatest prosperity or productivity

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

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

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

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

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

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

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

the state of being a man; manly qualities

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

joined in matrimony

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

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

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

very recently

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

the possibility of future success

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

To recall to mind.

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

cut with a saw

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

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

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

the season of growth

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

not in physical motion

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

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

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

sweep across or over

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

plural of “tenant” — someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

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

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

not to be accounted for or explained

From this reading For my part, I like to see the passing, in town or country; but each has his own unaccountable taste.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

precisely as stated

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

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

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

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

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

at the time that

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

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

From this reading The modest structure was set well back from the road, among the trees, as if the inmates were to care nothing whatever for a view of the stylish equipages which sweep by during the summer season.

which person or people

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The proprietor, who seemed to be also the architect of the new house, superintended the various details of the work with an assiduity that gave me a high opinion of his intelligence and executive ability, and I congratulated myself on the prospect of having some very agreeable neighbors.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company When I saw the little house building, an eighth of a mile beyond my own, on the Old Bay Road, I wondered who were to be the tenants.

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

From this reading It was quite early in the spring, if I remember, when they moved into the cottage--a newly married couple, evidently: the wife very young, pretty, and with the air of a lady; the husband somewhat older, but still in the first flush of manhood.