used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
how long something has existed
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
using the voice; not silently
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
arm-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
make certain of
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
next to; at the side of
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
betaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
placed in a grave
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
permission to do something
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
contemptibleadjectiveUS /kənˈtemptəbəl/
deserving of contempt or scorn
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
dearly loved
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
dislikenounUS /dɪˈslaɪk/
an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
dislikedadjectiveUS /dɪˈslaɪkt/
regarded with aversion
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
dulledadjectiveUS /dʌld/
having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
take in solid food
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
evasivelyadverb
with evasion; in an evasive manner
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
heartyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrti/
showing warm and heartfelt friendliness
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
impeachmentnounUS /ˌɪmˈpiːtʃmənt/
a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
incrediblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
involuntarilyadverbUS /ˌɪnvoʊˈlʌntərɪli/
against your will
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/
plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
the sound of laughing
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
loudlyadverbUS /ˈlaʊdli/
with relatively high volume
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
engage in
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
mutualadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtʃuːəl/
common to or shared by two or more parties
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
pitchingnounUS /ˈpɪtʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of pitcher on a baseball team
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
relishnounUS /ˈrelɪʃ/
vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
satisfactorilyadverbUS /ˌsætɪˈsfæktrəli/
in a satisfactory manner
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
not in physical motion
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
supernumeraries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
tenaciousadjectiveUS /təˈneɪʃəs/
good at remembering
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
truthfuladjectiveUS /ˈtruːθfəl/
expressing or given to expressing the truth
From this reading “I never said I disliked old women, did I?” reply I evasively, being too truthful altogether to deny the soft impeachment.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I am sitting close beside her arm-chair, and have been reading aloud to her; but as I cannot succeed in pitching my voice so as to make her hear satisfactorily, by mutual consent the book has been dropped in my lap, and we have betaken ourselves to conversation.
Wentworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
at the time that
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading This is what she says, shaking the while her head, which--poor old soul--is already shaking a good deal involuntarily.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
but in spite of that
From this reading This is what old Mrs. Wentworth says--the old lady so incredibly tenacious of life (incredibly as it seems to me at eighteen) as to have buried a husband and five strong sons, and yet still to eat her dinner with hearty relish, and laugh at any such jokes as are spoken loudly enough to reach her dulled ears.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Yes, my dear, you may not believe me, but I can assure you that you cannot dislike old women more, nor think them more contemptible supernumeraries, than I did when I was your age.”
