Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

a formal public statement

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

a lady's bedroom or private sitting room

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

dearly loved

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

out of a sense of duty; in a dutiful manner

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

full of events or incidents

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

a period of fourteen consecutive days

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

set up or found

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

the act of giving

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

the act of departing

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

with indifference; in an indifferent manner

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

a change in the form of a word (usually by adding a suffix) to indicate a change in its grammatical function

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

and nothing more

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

set down according to a plan

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

engage in

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

take in marriage

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

a theatrical performance held during the daytime (especially in the afternoon)

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

not fanciful or imaginative

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

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

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

of very great significance

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

with neatness

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

an amount of time

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

filled with bewilderment

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

a result

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

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

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

cut with a saw

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

being ten more than fifty

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

having a supporting base

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

United States suffragist and feminist; called for reform of the practices that perpetuated sexual inequality (1815-1902)

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

by that means or because of that

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

in an acceptable (but not outstanding) manner

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

up to a particular time

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

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

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Then she laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled way up into her daughter's face, and added, "My ears must have played me a funny trick.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?" indifferently enough, just in mechanical response to the matter-of-fact inflection of Rosalind's voice.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

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

From this reading And standing dutifully at her mother's side until she saw the pen make a period, made then her momentous announcement, much in the tone she would have used had it been to the effect that she was going to the matinee with him that afternoon.

the act of creating written works

From this reading Rose found her neatly writing a paper at the boudoir desk in the little room she called her den.

a late time of life

From this reading HOW IT STRUCK PORTIA It was just a fortnight later that Rose told her mother she was going to marry Rodney Aldrich, thereby giving that lady a greater shock of surprise than, hitherto, she had experienced in the sixty years of a tolerably eventful life.