Chapter XX

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

skillful performance or ability without difficulty

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

plural of “age” — how long something has existed

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

(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 Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

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

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

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

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

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

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

next to; at the side of

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

occurring with or following as a consequence

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

aimless wandering from place to place

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

not clear to the understanding

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

opinion or judgment

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

possessive form of “felicia” — genus of tropical African herbs or subshrubs with usually blue flowers

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

plural of “garment” — an article of clothing

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

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

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

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

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

immediately past

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

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

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

plural of “meeting” — a formally arranged gathering

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

being perceived or observed

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

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

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

by chance

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

appearing as such but not necessarily so

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

process or result of becoming less or smaller

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

the season of growth

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

having a supporting base

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

make steady

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

past form of “stiffen” — become stiff or stiffer

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

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

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

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

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

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

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

not made explicit

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

not necessary

From this reading Maurice, indeed, had avoided meetings all the spring, and Felicia's unexpressed reluctance had made much adroitness in evasion unnecessary.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

precisely as stated

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

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

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

(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 His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

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

From this reading That the shoulders were very thin, Maurice noticed, and then, on looking into her face, that it was almost haggard.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What ages it is, Maurice, since we have really talked together!" said Angela.

a Caucasian

From this reading But they had met at last, and he had taken her down to dinner, and she sat beside him now, her long eyes, steady, enigmatical, upon him, her mouth, stiffened a little with its smile; her white garments, as usual, seeming to slide away from her thin, white shoulders.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading His world was drifting away from Angela's world, and in the consequent shrinking he perhaps recognized how large a background she had put into his life; but a background with Angela standing out upon it was well lost; Maurice did not regret it.