Chapter XXII · Old Peggy

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

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

aimlessly drifting

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

in addition

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

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

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

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

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

the thing arranged or agreed to

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

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

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading Poor, broken old man!

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

a person who is in charge

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

the act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

several things grouped together or considered as a whole

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

very strong; urgently felt

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

the feeling of being bored by something tedious

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

any material that fills a space or container

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

assemble or get together

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

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

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

improved in health or physical condition

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

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

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

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

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

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

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

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

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

free from evil or guilt

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

plural of “lapse” — a mistake resulting from inattention

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

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

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

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

From this reading Poor, broken old man!

the trait of being manly; having the characteristics of an adult male

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

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

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

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

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

plural of “moth” — typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Poor, broken old man!

plural of “problem” — a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

with speed

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

restored to a new condition

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

worried and uneasy

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

return to its original or usable and functioning condition

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

past form of “roam” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading I roamed the country as of old and renewed my acquaintance with bird, fish and insect.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

express in words

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class

From this reading To my father, also, it brought, in the arrangement and classification of specimens, a certain innocent pleasure that helped to restore him to some healthier show of manliness moral and physical.

(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

-ing form of “temporize” — draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

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

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

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

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

not returned in kind

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

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

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.

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

From this reading Starting to gather a collection of butterflies and moths--many of which were local and rare--with the mere object of filling in the lapses of a restless ennui and in some dull gratitude to a pursuit that had helped me to a little degree of late success, I rapidly rose to an interest in its formation that became, I may say, the then chief happiness of my life.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The months that immediately followed my home-coming were passed by me in an aimless, desultory temporizing with the vexed problems that, unanswered, were consuming my heart.