Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

from one side of something to the other

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

later than; following

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

(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 So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

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

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

give a benediction to

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

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

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

without or almost without hope

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

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

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

any strong feeling

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

use of physical or mental energy; hard work

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

the organ of sight

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

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

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

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

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

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

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

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

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

a force that moves something along

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

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

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

moving to the inside of something

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

-ing form of “mope” — move around slowly and aimlessly

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

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

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

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

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

a person who is feeling grief (as grieving over someone who has died)

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

not any; not one

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

impressive in appearance

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

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

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

a course of conduct

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

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

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

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

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

struck with fear, dread, or consternation

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

marked by absence of sound

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

convulsive gasp made while weeping

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

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

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

a male human offspring

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

the act of swimming

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

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

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

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

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

moved around an axis or center

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

in a violent manner

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

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

From this reading "Ellinor (let me do her justice) was shocked at my silent emotion.

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

From this reading So I left the house; so I never returned to the law; so all impetus, all motive for exertion, seemed taken from my being; so I went back into books.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"

lacking in usefulness or value

From this reading And so a moping, despondent, worthless mourner might I have been to the end of my days, but that Heaven, in its mercy, sent thy mother, Pisistratus, across my path; and day and night I bless God and her, for I have been, and am-- oh, indeed, I am a happy man!"

an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading No human lip could utter more tender sympathy, more noble self-reproach; but that was no balm to my wound.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading My mother threw herself on my father's breast, sobbing violently, and then turned from the room without a word; my father's eye, swimming in tears, followed her; and then, after pacing the room for some moments in silence, he came up to me, and leaning his arm on my shoulder, whispered, "Can you guess why I have now told you all this, my son?"