used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
confined by bonds
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
a youthful male person
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
cultivateverbUS /ˈkʌltəveɪt/
foster the growth of
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
KittynounUS /ˈkɪti/
the combined stakes of the betters
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
lovableadjectiveUS /ˈlʌvəbəl/
having characteristics that attract love or affection
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
Phil's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
pleasuresnounUS /ˈpleʒərz/
plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
pursuitsnounUS /pərˈsuːts/
plural of “pursuit” — the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
RachelnounUS /ˈreɪtʃəl/
(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading She had never taken so much pains to cultivate Phil's acquaintance as Kitty had done.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rachel did not forget her promise to old Nancy.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
trysting-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had certainly joined in the almost universal chorus that he was a nice and lovable little boy, but she had not greatly troubled her head about his pursuits or his pleasures.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading But now that the said lady seemed to wish to see Phil, and now that she, Rachel, had almost bound herself to bring Phil to the trysting-place in the forest, she began to regard him with new interest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading She was too much taken up with the wonderful secret which she possessed with regard to the real existence of the lady of the forest.
