Chapter XXIV · Descent

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

(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 THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

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

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

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

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

very drunk

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

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

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

a symptom of reduced quality or strength

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

one or the other of two

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

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

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

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

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

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

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

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

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

worthy of being honored; entitled to honor and respect

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading How to meet her, what to hope, he could not tell.

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

From this reading How to meet her, what to hope, he could not tell.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

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

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

for more time

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

come together

From this reading How to meet her, what to hope, he could not tell.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

an uneasy psychological state

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

A terrifying or distressing dream.

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

not any; not one

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

lacking sensation

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

past form of “occasion” — give occasion to

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

the act of orienting

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

express in words

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

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

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

reduced to silence

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

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

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

comparative of “subtle” — difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

to a sufficient degree

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

express in words

From this reading How to meet her, what to hope, he could not tell.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

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

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading THAT journey home, in spite of all the splendours which his own and Emma’s renown and the Queen’s company occasioned, was a nightmare to Nelson.

which person or people

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading The process of deterioration, which could never touch either his genius or his patriotism, had begun in other and subtler nerves of his character but the disease had not as yet sufficiently spread to numb his recognition of what was due to his wife, and she had become an agony to him.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.

a late time of life

From this reading He who had been able some years before to say, fearless of contradiction, “There is not one action in my life but what is honourable”, could say it no longer.

but in spite of that

From this reading He was utterly besotted on her; he could neither escape from her enchantments nor will to, but as yet his conscience was not wholly silenced, nor the orientation of a lifetime completely changed.