Chapter XII · Chapter 12

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

replying

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

on or to one side

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

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

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

third-person singular of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

the two together, not just one

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

lacking funds

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

past form of “clash” — crash together with violent impact

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

persuaded of; very sure

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

dearly loved

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

command with authority

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Watch over him, Philip, for my sake."

willing to give and share unstintingly

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

unpleasantly stern

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

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

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

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

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

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

From this reading "Watch over him, Philip, for my sake."

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

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

the state of being honored

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

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

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

held dear

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Watch over him, Philip, for my sake."

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

above and across; more than

From this reading "Watch over him, Philip, for my sake."

have ownership or possession of

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading "Watch over him, Philip, for my sake."

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

make a promise or commitment

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

the activity of protecting someone or something

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

a reason for wanting something done

From this reading "Watch over him, Philip, for my sake."

Identical; not different.

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

the act of teaching at school

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

express in speech

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

doomed to extinction

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

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

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

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

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading His face, harsh and stern of feature both by nature and schooling, grew almost tender as he turned aside troubled.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

the French defeated the Austrian and Prussian troops in 1792 (with a famous cannonade from the French artillery)

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

engaged in war

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

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

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

look attentively

From this reading "Watch over him, Philip, for my sake."

at the time that

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

which person or people

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

in the company of; together with

From this reading LA MOTHE BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CONVINCED But having ended the sentence Commines broke off at the end as La Mothe had done in the middle, and with much the same embarrassment.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading But into the memory of the tired voice he had loved there clashed the King's harsh question so curtly asked in Valmy, and torn by the conflict of the two natures warring within him Commines paced the room in silence.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

the words that are spoken

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?

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

From this reading To speak plainly to any man of honour and generous spirit, answering his own question in direct words, would have been difficult, but how much greater the difficulty when the man was brother to that dear dead woman who had sunk to her sleep comforted by his promise of care and protection?