Chapter XV · Chapter 15

causing a dull and steady pain

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading Ah, those nights!

be ill or unwell

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

used to show sadness, pity, or regret

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

(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 But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

a natural object that covers or envelops

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

divisible by two

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

opinion or judgment

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

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

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

lacking in feeling or pity or warmth

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

of or relating to or designating narcotics

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

comparative of “narrow” — not wide

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading Ah, those nights!

not any; not one

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

on one occasion

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

go across or through

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

serving to purge or rid of sin

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

a male human offspring

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

affording physical relief

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

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

From this reading Alas for the sleepless human soul out in the eternal cold!

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

believed likely

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

for a limited time only; not permanently

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

express gratitude or show appreciation to

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

a special situation

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Ah, those nights!

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

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

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Thank God, there was no way round the purifying fire! he could not escape it; he _must_ pass through it!

wanting in physical strength

From this reading But it brought no solace to the mind of the weak, hard-hearted, and guilty son.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

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

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

belonging to which person

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.

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

From this reading But so heartless was James, that, if his mother had come to him in the morning with her tear-dimmed eyes, he would never have asked himself what could ail her; would never even have seen that she was unhappy; least of all would have suspected himself the cause of her red eyes and aching head, or that the best thing in him was that mental uneasiness of which he was constantly aware.

arrange or fold as a cover or protection

From this reading He had succeeded once more in temporarily soothing his conscience with some narcotic of false comfort, and now slept the sleep of the houseless, whose covering was narrower than he could wrap himself in.