Chapter VIII

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

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

not being in a specified place

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

have an effect upon

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

the way two individuals relate to each other

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

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

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

someone whose employment involves carrying something

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

not accessible to view

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

unvarying in nature

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

take in solid food

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

one or the other of two

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

divisible by two

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

marked by intense agitation or emotion

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

yet to be or coming

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

largest city in Scotland; a port on the Clyde in west central Scotland; one of the great shipbuilding centers of the world

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

incapable of being justified or explained

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

the literary culture

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

for more time

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

plural of “meeting” — a formally arranged gathering

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

possessive form of “nancy” — a city in northeastern France in Lorraine

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

not any; not one

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

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

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

a soft wool fabric with a colorful swirled pattern of curved shapes

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

having or expressing strong emotions

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

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

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

in a pretty manner

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

gradual improvement or growth or development

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

showing possibility of achievement or excellence

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

past form of “punctuate” — insert punctuation marks into

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

the trait of giving little thought to danger

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

past form of “scratch” — cause friction

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

not in physical motion

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

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

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading He, from Glasgow, had scratched her a line as he waited for the Paisley carrier, promising future and full epistles.

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

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

at the time that

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

the trait of being prone to disobedience and lack of discipline

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The recklessness, the headstrong wilfulness of the little woman when the object of her passion had been near her, and she could either see him or hear from him day by day, had been hard enough to cope with, but now that he was absent, and the constant excitement of the letters and the meetings was suspended, her state was piteous.

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

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.

a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune

From this reading But now the sight of Nancy’s wretchedness—no longer to be concealed or disguised—began, even more than her own uneasiness, to affect her.

produce a literary work

From this reading She would still write, by the hour, by day and night, her feverish, passionate letters, which followed the poet by mail and post-gig, and must prettily have punctuated his progress as he went.

but in spite of that

From this reading She would neither eat nor sleep, neither rest nor yet employ herself; the irritation of her temper—sweet turned to bitter under the alchemy of passion—was almost insupportable.