Chapter IV

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

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

past form of “ache” — feel physical pain

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

(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 Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

in an amazing manner; to everyone's surprise

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

past form of “argue” — present reasons and arguments

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

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

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

for the reason that

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

captured, as if under a spell

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

on the far side of; further than

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

having or marked by confidence or assurance

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

forceful and extreme and rigorous

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

in a dreamy manner

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

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

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

a young female

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

having or deserving or conferring glory

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

dependent upon or characterized by chance

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

the quality of being hateful

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

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

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

and nothing more

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

in a keen or penetrating way

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

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

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

and nothing more

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

in a monotonous manner

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

not any; not one

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

on one occasion

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

a judge of a probate court

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

with low volume

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

inflected form of “recur” — happen or occur again

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

precisely, exactly

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

the season of growth

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

moving very fast

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented

From this reading Oh, merely this world, this ordinary old world, but twisted round from hatefulness because you dared to twist it....

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

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

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

at the time that

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

in or at the place that

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

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

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

belonging to which person

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading And Aunt Lavvy with a wise little smile had lent her Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Surely those moments, rare and swift, when you were amazingly happy, confident, bewitched, and for no reason at all, surely, Ursula had argued once with Aunt Lavvy, they could be made permanent, if you could once find out the cause of them?

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....

a late time of life

From this reading THE GIRL IN THE ROOM [I] IT was Ursula’s way to endure haphazard circumstances quietly and dreamily, for years; and then, inspired and shaken by sudden fierce impatience, to spring at them.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading For just beyond drastic alteration, just beyond the limit of things wrong, lay that right and glorious world for which she ached ... where whatever you did, you keenly wanted to do; where no time was wasted in sitting about among people whose speech and habits recurred monotonously from day to day; where the air was sharp and golden as early morning in early summer....