used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
adverseadjectiveUS /ædˈvɜːrs/
contrary to your interests or welfare
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
a state at a particular time
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
contemplateverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪt/
look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading Even in my isolated, friendless condition, I loved to contemplate the happiness of others.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
divisible by two
From this reading Even in my isolated, friendless condition, I loved to contemplate the happiness of others.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
friendlessadjective
excluded from a society
From this reading Even in my isolated, friendless condition, I loved to contemplate the happiness of others.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Even in my isolated, friendless condition, I loved to contemplate the happiness of others.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
hugverbUS /hʌɡ/
hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading Even in my isolated, friendless condition, I loved to contemplate the happiness of others.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
the sound of laughing
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
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 At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
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 I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
held dear
From this reading Even in my isolated, friendless condition, I loved to contemplate the happiness of others.
Margot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
misanthropynoun
hatred of mankind
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
a brief written record
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in my isolated, friendless condition, I loved to contemplate the happiness of others.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
participate in games or sport
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
pushverbUS /pʊʃ/
move with force
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
responsively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
worried and uneasy
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
revelrynounUS /ˈrevəlri/
unrestrained merrymaking
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
reversesnounUS /rɪˈvɜːrsɪz/
plural of “revers” — a lapel on a woman's garment; turned back to show the reverse side
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
possessing material wealth
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
scepticismnoun
the disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
an educational institution
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
not in physical motion
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
propel through the air
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading I tried to school my mind to a misanthropy that might throw me still more upon myself; but I could not.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
look attentively
From this reading I could watch children for hours long at their play; and if the sounds of laughter or pleasant revelry came from a house as I passed at nightfall, my heart beat responsively to every note of joy, and in my spirit I was in the midst of them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At moments a wish would seize me to push my fortune in the world,--to become rich and powerful; and then as suddenly would I fall back upon my poverty as the condition least open to great reverses, and hug myself in the thought that my obscurity was a shield against adverse fortune.
a late time of life
From this reading For some years after the death of Margot, my life was like a restless dream,--a struggle, as it were, between reality and a strange scepticism with everything and every one.
