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 She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

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

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

the thing arranged or agreed to

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

the state that exists when one person or group has power over another

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

British chemist and physicist who established that water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen and who calculated the density of the earth (1731-1810)

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

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

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading Lawrence, the younger, had been a delicate youth.

clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

willing to give and share unstintingly

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

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

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

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

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

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

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

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

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)

From this reading Lawrence, the younger, had been a delicate youth.

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 He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

joined in matrimony

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

used to form the superlative

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

the act of marrying again

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

plural of “style” — how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

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

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

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

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

not fair; marked by injustice or partiality or deception

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

(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 He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

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

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading He had been completely under his wife’s ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading Lawrence, the younger, had been a delicate youth.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Lawrence, the younger, had been a delicate youth.