Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

(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 Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading Hannaford answered, rather than asked.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Hannaford answered, rather than asked.

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

the act of overcoming or outdoing

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

of short duration or distance

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

past form of “cage” — confine in a cage

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

lower than previously

From this reading Mary was interested, yet depressed.

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

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Hannaford answered, rather than asked.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

in a heated manner

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading Mary was interested, yet depressed.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

plural of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading Mary was interested, yet depressed.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading "Does it not matter to ourselves?"

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

on the contrary

From this reading Hannaford answered, rather than asked.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Hannaford answered, rather than asked.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

a special situation

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading "Does it not matter to ourselves?"

plural of “tragedy” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

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

From this reading Mary was interested, yet depressed.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

at the time that

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading "What does it matter," she said, "whether we are happy or not?"

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

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Life seemed such a little thing when she thought of all the lives that had passed in one unending procession of brief joys and tedious tragedies since those bones had been clothed with flesh and had caged hearts which beat as hotly as hers was beating now.

but in spite of that

From this reading Mary was interested, yet depressed.