Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

a positive feeling of liking

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

(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 At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

a cherished desire

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

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

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

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

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

brought into existence

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

the lower side of anything

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

the state of being with someone

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

preferred above all others and treated with partiality

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

set up or found

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

physically weak

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

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

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

a young female

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

of grammatical gender

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

-ing form of “near” — move towards

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

not any; not one

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

and nothing more

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

literature in metrical form

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

a property of polygons: the property of having equal sides and equal angles

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

morally degraded

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

correct by punishment or discipline

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

in or at that place or location

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

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

From this reading She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

the activity of making visits

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty

From this reading At the bottom of all the outward _sauvagerie_, however, there was a heart, and strong wants, which only affection and companionship could satisfy and tame.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

(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 She had been then strong and well favored, possessed of a certain masculine black-browed beauty, and of a temper which sometimes gave to it an edge and glow such as an artist of ambition might have been glad to catch.

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

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

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

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Some fifteen months before this Midsummer Day she had been the mistress of the lonely old house in which her father and uncle had passed their whole lives, in which she had been born, and in which, amid snowdrifts so deep that no doctor could reach them, her mother had passed away.

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

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

belonging to which person

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Neither were to be found in sufficient measure within her home.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.

but in spite of that

From this reading Mary Backhouse, the girl whom Catherine had been visiting with regularity for many weeks, and whose frail life was this evening nearing a terrible and long-expected crisis, was the victim of a fate sordid and common enough, yet not without its elements of dark poetry.