used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
(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 While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
attachmentnounUS /əˈtætʃmənt/
a feeling of affection for a person or an institution
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
bigotnounUS /ˈbɪɡət/
a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
Catharine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
rid of obstructions
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
compassionnounUS /kəmˈpæʃən/
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
a female human offspring
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
declaringverbUS /dɪˈklerɪŋ/
-ing form of “declare” — state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
determiningadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənɪŋ/
having the power or quality of deciding
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
psychological suffering
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
divisible by two
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
freeingnounUS /ˈfriːɪŋ/
the act of liberating someone or something
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
ImpulsesnounUS /ˈɪmpəlsɪz/
plural of “impulse” — an instinctive motive
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
intransigentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtrænsədʒənt/
impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
and nothing more
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
held dear
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
joined in matrimony
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
and nothing more
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
Robert'snounUS /ˈrɑːbərts/
possessive form of “robert” — United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
scandalnounUS /ˈskændəl/
disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
be standing; be upright
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
a special situation
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
undesirableadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈzaɪrəbəl/
not wanted
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
not known
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
vileadjectiveUS /vaɪl/
morally reprehensible
From this reading Impulses of love, impulses of sacrifice toward the miserable, the vile, and the helpless--day by day she had felt them, day by day she had obeyed them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
at the time that
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Catharine returned to the little sitting-room, in which the darkness of a rainy October evening was already declaring itself, she came shaken by many emotions in which only one thing was clear--that the man before her was a good man in distress, and that her daughter loved him.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But just as in her married life, her heart had not been able to stand against her husband while her mind condemned him, so now.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she had been of the true bigot stuff she would have seen in the threatened scandal a means of freeing Mary from an undesirable attachment.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading While in theory, and toward people with whom she never came in contact, she had grown even more bitter and intransigent since Robert's death than she had been in her youth, she had all the time been living the daily life of service and compassion which--unknown to herself--had been the real saving and determining force.
