Chapter XX · Chapter 20

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

later than; following

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

plural of “alternative” — one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

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

From this reading And he did face it through.

experiencing intense pain especially mental pain

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

plural of “avenue” — a line of approach

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

superlative of “bitter” — marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

in bodily form

From this reading That struggle was not hurried and embittered by the bodily presence of the Squire.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the act of closing something

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

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

From this reading And he did face it through.

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

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

past form of “embitter” — cause to be bitter or resentful

From this reading That struggle was not hurried and embittered by the bodily presence of the Squire.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

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

From this reading And he did face it through.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the act of grasping

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

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

From this reading And he did face it through.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste

From this reading That struggle was not hurried and embittered by the bodily presence of the Squire.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

becoming greater or larger

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And he did face it through.

a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

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

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

an instance of becoming narrow

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

not any; not one

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading That struggle was not hurried and embittered by the bodily presence of the Squire.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

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

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

the act of subjugating by cruelty

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

causing physical or psychological pain

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading That struggle was not hurried and embittered by the bodily presence of the Squire.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the state of lacking unity

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

young nobleman attendant on a knight

From this reading That struggle was not hurried and embittered by the bodily presence of the Squire.

make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That struggle was not hurried and embittered by the bodily presence of the Squire.

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

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

in or at that place or location

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading And he did face it through.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

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

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Mr. Wendover went off to Italy a few days after the conversation we have described.

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

From this reading The next three months were the bitterest months of Elsmere’s life.

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.

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

From this reading They were marked by anguished mental struggle, by a consciousness of painful separation from the soul nearest to his own, and by a constantly increasing sense of oppression, of closing avenues and narrowing alternatives, which for weeks together seemed to hold the mind in a grip whence there was no escape.