Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

the state of being absent

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

a large mountain system in south-central Europe; scenic beauty and winter sports make them a popular tourist attraction

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

having a strong desire for success or achievement

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

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

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

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

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

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

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

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

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

the capital and largest city of Belgium; seat of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

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

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

get the meaning of something

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

past form of “curtail” — place restrictions on

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

a message that departs from the main subject

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

gained or acquired; especially through merit or as a result of effort or action

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

plural of “excursion” — a journey taken for pleasure

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

plural of “expedition” — a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

relatively long in duration; tediously protracted

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

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

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

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

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

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

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

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

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

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

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

the capital of Lombardy in northern Italy; has been an international center of trade and industry since the Middle Ages

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

a port and tourist center in southwestern Italy; capital of the Campania region

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

not any; not one

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

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

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

a mistake resulting from neglect

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

above and across; more than

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

designed or carried out according to a plan

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

an announcement of the events that will occur as part of a theatrical or sporting event

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

an elaborate and systematic plan of action

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

being one more than sixteen

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

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

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

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

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Since they first settled in Florence the Brownings had made no long or distant expeditions from their new home.

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

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

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

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

plural of “travel” — the act of going from one place to another

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

a region in central Italy

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

as the end result of a succession or process

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

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

From this reading Their summer excursions to Vallombrosa, Lucca, or Siena had been of the nature of short holidays, and had not taken them beyond the limits of Tuscany.

the provincial capital of Veneto; built on 118 islands within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice; has canals instead of streets; one of Italy's major ports and a famous tourist attraction

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

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

From this reading This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

(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 This ambitious programme had to be curtailed by the omission of the southern tour to Rome and Naples, as well as the digression to Brussels, but the rest of the scheme was carried out, and about the beginning of June they left Casa Guidi for an absence which extended over seventeen months.

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

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

which person or people

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now they had planned a far wider series of travels, which, beginning with Rome, Naples, Venice, and Milan, should then be extended across the Alps, and comprehend Brussels, Paris, and ultimately London.

the act of creating written works

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading The holiday had been well earned, especially by Mrs. Browning, who, since the preparation of the new edition of her poems in the previous year, had been writing the second part of 'Casa Guidi Windows.'