Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

periodically accumulated over time

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

-ing 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 His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

moving quickly and lightly

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

(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 His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

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

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

achieved or reached

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

a young person of either sex

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

unvarying in nature

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

a small house with a single story

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

a person who lives in the dales of northern England

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

the organ of sight

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

the childhood of a girl

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

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

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

a device that requires skill for proper use

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

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

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

joined in matrimony

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

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

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

someone who climbs mountains

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

the activity of climbing a mountain

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

easily agitated

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

occurring from time to time

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

and nothing more

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

in a peaceable manner

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

plural of “risk” — a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

an ability that has been acquired by training

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

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

From this reading She had neither the strength of limb nor the agile grace of the mountaineer.

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

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

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

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

below the required standards for a purpose

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

directed up

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

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

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

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

From this reading This was partly the result of the conditions under which her girlhood had been spent.

which person or people

From this reading She was the only child of a dalesman, who had so far accumulated estate in land as to be known in the vernacular as a statesman.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.

the state of being an adult woman

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Her mother had died at her birth, and before she had attained to young womanhood her father, who had married late in life, was feeble and unfit for labor.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading His hand was too nervous, his eye too uncertain, his breath too short for the constant risks of mountaineering; so he put away all further thought of adding store to store, and settled himself peaceably in his cottage under Castenand, content with the occasional pleasures afforded by his fiddle, an instrument upon which he had from his youth upward shown some skill.