Chapter XVII · The Lost Presence

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

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

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

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

any thing at all

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

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

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

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

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

declare untrue; contradict

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

feelings of ardent love

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

render capable or able for some task

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

divisible by two

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

the concentration of attention or energy on something

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

inflected form of “forgo” — do without or cease to hold or adhere to

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

destroyed or killed

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

an erroneous mental representation

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

express or state indirectly

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

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

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

not basic or fundamental

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

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

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

immediately past

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

of less size or importance

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

something that is lost

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

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

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

a stingy hoarder of money and possessions (often living miserably)

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

plural of “mystic” — someone who believes in the existence of realities beyond human comprehension

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

many times at short intervals

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

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

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

plural of “opportunity” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

(logic) a statement that contradicts itself

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

plural of “perspective” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

-ing form of “possess” — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

on the contrary

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

third-person singular of “realise” — earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

with honesty

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

past form of “risk” — expose to a chance of loss or damage

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

your consciousness of your own identity

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

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

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

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

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

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

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

plural of “truth” — a fact that has been verified

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

up to a particular time

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

a vivid mental image

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

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

From this reading The miser, robbed and pauperised, realises too late the countless opportunities for happiness he has forgone; the desolated lover knows at last the devotion which risked death to pleasure him, rather than deny to the lesser faith that proof which, to its own, more strong and pure, was inessential.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It is a pathetic paradox that we never truly acquire anything until we have lost it.

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

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading To possess rightly what is ours we must be deprived of it, must come to view it down the perspectives of the past and gone, to enable us to get its real proportions into focus.

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

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

during the time that

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.

which person or people

From this reading So it often is that to die is to live for the first time as one’s true self, even in the hearts of those who cherished us.

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

From this reading That would seem to imply that, as the mystics teach us, matter is the illusion and imagination the reality, since loss opens our mental vision to a thousand truths, to which while possessing them we were blind.