adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
alliancenounUS /əˈlaɪəns/
the state of being allied or confederated
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
cagesnounUS /ˈkeɪdʒɪz/
plural of “cage” — an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
cross-leggedadverb
with the legs crossed
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
dealingsnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋz/
social or verbal interchange (usually followed by “with”)
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
deathnounUS /deθ/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
decisiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
determining or having the power to determine an outcome
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
desiredadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərd/
wanted intensely
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
doubtingadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtɪŋ/
marked by or given to doubt
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
emphaticallyadverbUS /emˈfætɪkli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
eyenounUS /aɪ/
the organ of sight
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
fifteennounUS /fɪfˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
financialadjectiveUS /fəˈnænʃəl/
involving financial matters
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
Forsyte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
heartsnounUS /hɑːrts/
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
holdverbUS /hoʊld/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
idolsnounUS /ˈaɪdəlz/
plural of “idol” — a material effigy that is worshipped
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
ignorantadjectiveUS /ˈɪɡnərənt/
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
inducedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈduːst/
brought about or caused; not spontaneous
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
Jolyon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
marryverbUS /ˈmeri/
take in marriage
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
measurenounUS /ˈmeʒər/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
misconstructions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
outcastnounUS /ˈaʊtkæst/
a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
possessedadjectiveUS /pəˈzest/
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
pricenounUS /praɪs/
the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
propertynounUS /ˈprɑːpərti/
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
slightsnounUS /slaɪts/
plural of “slight” — a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
smileverbUS /smaɪl/
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
tenacitynounUS /təˈnæsɪti/
persistent determination
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading He was one of those men who, seated cross-legged like miniature Chinese idols in the cages of their own hearts, are ever smiling at themselves a doubting smile.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
troublesnounUS /ˈtrʌbəlz/
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
wastingnounUS /ˈweɪstɪŋ/
any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He felt it throughout his alliance, throughout all his dealings with his second wife, who was emphatically not a Forsyte.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had not known it till after the decisive step which had made him an outcast; since then the knowledge had been with him continually.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading He knew that if he had not possessed in great measure the eye for what he wanted, the tenacity to hold on to it, the sense of the folly of wasting that for which he had given so big a price—in other words, the “sense of property” he could never have retained her (perhaps never would have desired to retain her) with him through all the financial troubles, slights, and misconstructions of those fifteen years; never have induced her to marry him on the death of his first wife; never have lived it all through, and come up, as it were, thin, but smiling.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It is in the nature of a Forsyte to be ignorant that he is a Forsyte; but young Jolyon was well aware of being one.
