Chapter XXXV · Chapter 35

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

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

at or in the front

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

(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 All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

coverings that are used on a bed

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

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

From this reading She didn't try to tell him.

plural of “dispatch” — an official report (usually sent in haste)

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

half asleep

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

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

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

spoken with emphasis

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

arouse or elicit a feeling

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

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

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

plural of “heir” — a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

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

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

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

From this reading She didn't try to tell him.

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

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

possessive form of “houghton” — United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

a social unit living together

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

held dear

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

march in a procession

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

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

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

a dealer in textiles (especially silks)

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

established beyond doubt

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

done under pressure

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

cut with a saw

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

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

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

express in words

From this reading She didn't try to tell him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

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

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

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

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading She didn't try to tell him.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

disturb the balance or stability of

From this reading All that day the household outside her closed door was very much upset; but Eleanor, in the big bed, was perfectly placid.

precisely as stated

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

a message informing of danger

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

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

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

at the time that

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

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

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading So he sat at her bedside and told her about his trip, and how he had got ahead of the Greenleaf heirs, and how he rushed back to Mercer the minute those dispatches came saying that she was ill--and he never asked her why she was ill, or what took her out to the river in the cold dusk of that March afternoon.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

in the company of; together with

From this reading When Maurice saw his wife the next morning, it was with Mrs. Houghton's warning--emphasized by the presence of a nurse--that he must not excite her.

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

From this reading She was very warm and drowsy--and she held in her hand, under the bedclothes, that letter which proved how much she loved him, and which, some time, when she got well, she would show him.