Chapter II · The Rift in the Lute

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

anew

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

in the past

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

(Roman Catholic Church) Roman priest who became bishop of Milan

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading She would never have lifted a finger to hold him had he wished to be free!

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

inflected form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

separation resulting from hostility

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

divisible by two

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading She would never have lifted a finger to hold him had he wished to be free!

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading She would never have lifted a finger to hold him had he wished to be free!

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

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

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

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading She would never have lifted a finger to hold him had he wished to be free!

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

of the present time and place

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

people of Ireland or of Irish extraction

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

held up in the air

From this reading She would never have lifted a finger to hold him had he wished to be free!

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 That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

joined in matrimony

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading She would never have lifted a finger to hold him had he wished to be free!

not any; not one

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

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

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

lacking natural ease

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

express in words

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

in or at that place or location

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

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

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading That had happened long ago--even, so she sometimes thought, before their marriage.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

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

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

except if; if not

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

in a vehement manner

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

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

From this reading For why should he have married her unless he wanted her as she did him?

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading She would never have lifted a finger to hold him had he wished to be free!

in the company of; together with

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.

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

From this reading /But/ if a difference about money was the immediate cause of the strained relations between Major Ambrose and his wife, no one would have denied more vehemently than Eveleen herself that it was the beginning of their estrangement.

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading This might seem an Irish way of putting it, but at times she would tell herself that she must have been blind not to see there was something wrong with Richard then, though again the idea would look absolutely absurd.