Chapter IV · Helen's Diary

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

(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 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

deprive somebody of something by deceit

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

comparative of “clear” — readily apparent to the mind

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

completely ordinary and unremarkable

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

lacking in feeling or pity or warmth

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

the literary culture

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

not any; not one

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

and nothing more

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

cause to go somewhere

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

a general conscious awareness

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

the state of lacking unity

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

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

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

not feeling or showing gratitude

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

at the time that

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."

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

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

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

From this reading 'And why, I wonder?

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading At all events, it will do me no good to think about myself; I shall come to no better liking for myself, to no clearer conclusion about myself, by questions of this kind.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Am I a heartless woman, or ungrateful, or only commonplace, and unable to understand the way in which things present themselves to Alston?

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading 'And why, I wonder?

the words that are spoken

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

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

From this reading These are Alston's words, not mine; I have it not in me to think these thoughts, and so the words would not come.

produce a literary work

From this reading 'I am to write my letters to him, Alston says, in the form of a journal, so that when I send them off each week, he may be able "to follow my life from day to day through all the familiar hours of it, and so to cheat himself out of the sense of separation."