Chapter XXXIV

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

the criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member; if a man's wife is abducted it is a crime against the family relationship and against the wife

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

dwell

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

put in effect

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

(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 "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

eagerly desirous

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

agreement on a secret plot

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

permission to do something

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

reach, make, or come to a decision about something

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

perceived or discerned

From this reading DETECTED.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

under the influence of narcotics

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

divisible by two

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

yet to be or coming

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

a young female

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

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

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

weight to be borne or conveyed

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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 "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

engage in

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

take in marriage

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

used to form the superlative

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

extremely wicked

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

and nothing more

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

someone who journeys in foreign lands

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

past form of “quiet” — become quiet or quieter

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

only a very short time before

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

English colonist in America; leader of the Pilgrims in the early days of the Plymouth Colony (1584-1656)

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But such had been the fate of our pretty Geraldine, although only by the connivance of the governess had Standish been able to accomplish the daring abduction.

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

carry out

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

in or at that place or location

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

past form of “unfold” — develop or come to a promising stage

From this reading Having quieted her uneasy scruples by swearing that he meant to marry the girl--which, indeed, he was most anxious to do--Standish unfolded his nefarious plot, and by his threatenings forced her to consent to aid him.

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

in or at the place that

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

morally bad in principle or practice

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

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

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"

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

From this reading It would scarcely be believed that a young girl could be drugged and carried from her own room at midnight by a scoundrel, even in the great, wicked city of Chicago.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "If you could go back to the forks of the road, Back the long miles you have carried the load; Back to the place where you had to decide By this way or that all your life to abide; Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair-- If you were there now, a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would you take?"