Chapter XXX · The Desolated

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

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

anew

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

(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 “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

possessive form of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

inflected form of “bear” — have

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

seemingly boundless in amount, number, degree, or especially extent

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading FESTUS “Well, just once more, mother!”

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

yet to be or coming

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

possessive form of “god” — 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 I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

and nothing more

From this reading FESTUS “Well, just once more, mother!”

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading I loved thee, lady!

set down according to a plan

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

superlative of “light” — of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

held dear

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

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

From this reading FESTUS “Well, just once more, mother!”

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

From this reading FESTUS “Well, just once more, mother!”

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

on one occasion

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

plural of “sin” — estrangement from god

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

in the near future

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

move fast, noisily, and heavily

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

past form of “vie” — compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

which person or people

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

belonging to which person

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading ——But, for the future, I will as soon attempt to entice a star To perch upon my finger, or the wind To follow me like a dog, as think to keep A woman’s heart again.”

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.

possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading I am one whose love is greater than the world’s, And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring, All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.

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

From this reading “Thou knowest well what once I was to thee; One who for love of one I loved—_for thee!_— Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world; Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look; And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned, I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it— ’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege, And laid it at thy feet.