Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

(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 had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am Yours, &c.

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

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

react verbally

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

-ing form of “blunder” — commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

the two together, not just one

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading I am Yours, &c.

make calm or still

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

bestow a quality on

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading E.A. HOLYOKE.

plural of “expectation” — belief about (or mental picture of) the future

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

in a gradual manner

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

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

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

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

From this reading E.A. HOLYOKE.

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

not perfect; defective or inadequate

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

past form of “indulge” — give free rein to

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

cause injuries or bodily harm to

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

harmful to living things

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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 Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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 Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

quality of being moderate and avoiding extremes

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

a condition requiring relief

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

plural of “passion” — a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

plural of “pursuit” — the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

have faith or confidence in

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

plural of “request” — a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

term of address for a man

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

express in words

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

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

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

(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 As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

at the time that

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

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

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

a specific feeling of desire

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

in the company of; together with

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I had a good Set of Teeth, but they failed me gradually, without Pain, so that by 80 I lost them all.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading As to the Passions, Sir, I need not tell you that when indulged, they injure the Health; that a calm, quiet self-possession, and a moderation in our Expectations and Pursuits, contribute much to our Health, as well as our happiness, and that Anxiety is injurious to both.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Thus, Sir, you have, blundering and imperfect as it is, an answer to your Requests, with my best wishes that it may be of any service to the Purpose for which it was made--But must rely upon it that Nothing I have written be made public in my Name.[B] Wishing you long Life and many happy Days,

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading I am Yours, &c.