used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
accommodationnounUS /əˌkɑːməˈdeɪʃən/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
anew
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
in the past
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for 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 Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
atrocitynounUS /əˈtrɑːsəti/
the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
authoritativeadjectiveUS /əˈθɔːrəteɪtɪv/
having authority or ascendancy or influence
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
conceivableadjectiveUS /kənˈsiːvəbəl/
capable of being imagined
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever he couldn’t have known her.
deprecationnoun
a prayer to avert or remove some evil or disaster
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
discretionnounUS /dɪˈskreʃən/
freedom to act or judge on one's own
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
displeasurenounUS /dɪˈspleʒər/
the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
at any time
From this reading More than ever he couldn’t have known her.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
communicated in words
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
freshlyadverbUS /ˈfreʃli/
very recently
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
death of a person
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading More than ever he couldn’t have known her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading More than ever he couldn’t have known her.
ladylikeadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdilaɪk/
befitting a woman of good breeding
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than ever he couldn’t have known her.
mustn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
oddestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəst/
superlative of “odd” — not divisible by two
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
outrageousadjectiveUS /aʊˈtreɪdʒəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
a human being
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
physicallyadverbUS /ˈfɪzɪkəli/
in accord with physical laws
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
primeadjectiveUS /praɪm/
first in rank or degree
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
rearrangedverbUS /ˌriːərˈeɪndʒd/
past form of “rearrange” — put into a new order or arrangement
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
except for; apart from
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
shudderingadjectiveUS /ˈʃʌdərɪŋ/
shaking convulsively or violently
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
in a strange manner
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than ever he couldn’t have known her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
ulterioradjectiveUS /əlˈtɪriər/
lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed (especially being kept in the background or deliberately concealed)
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
unalterableadjectiveUS /əˈnɔːltərəbəl/
not capable of being changed or altered
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
uncoveredadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌvərd/
not covered with clothing
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
undergoingverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
precisely as stated
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
vulgaritynounUS /vəlˈɡerɪti/
the quality of lacking taste and refinement
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
(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 She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
at the time that
From this reading That atrocity in her was what everything had been built on, but somehow, all strangely, it was slipping from him; so that, after the oddest fashion conceivable, when he felt he mustn’t let her go, it was as if he were putting out his hand to save the past, the hideous real unalterable past, exactly as she had been the cause of its being and the cause of his undergoing it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Less and less remained of the figure all the facts of which had long ago so hardened for him.
belonging to which person
From this reading She was a handsome, grave, authoritative, but refined and, as it were, physically rearranged person--she, the outrageous vulgarity of whose prime assault had kept him shuddering so long as a shudder was in him.
a late time of life
From this reading She spoke so for accommodation, for discretion, for some ulterior view already expressed in her manner, that, after taking well in, from behind his hands, that this was her very voice--oh ladylike!--heard, and heard in deprecation of displeasure, after long years again, he uncovered his face and freshly met her eyes.
