Chapter I · Chapter 1

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

a cherished desire

From this reading With false ambition what had I to do?

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

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading With false ambition what had I to do?

(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

divisible by two

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

From this reading With false ambition what had I to do?

emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

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

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

inflected form of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

and nothing more

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

plural of “passion” — a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

plural of “path” — a course of conduct

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

cut down on; make a reduction in

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

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

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

inflected form of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading With false ambition what had I to do?

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

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

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

From this reading The earliest--even the only paths for me-- Had I but sooner learnt the crowd to shun, I had been better than I now can be: The passions which have torn me would have slept: I had not suffered, and _thou_ hadst not wept.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With false ambition what had I to do?

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

From this reading I can reduce all feelings but this one: And that I would not;--for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life begun.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading XII.

the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one

From this reading XIII.