used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
how long something has existed
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
appealedverbUS /əˈpiːld/
past form of “appeal” — take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
ARCADIAnounUS /ɑːrˈkeɪdiə/
a department of Greece in the central Peloponnese
From this reading TEATIME IN ARCADIA.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
ascribeverbUS /əˈskraɪb/
attribute or credit to
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
colossaladjectiveUS /kəˈlɑːsəl/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
dimensionsnounUS /dɪˈmenʃənz/
plural of “dimension” — the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
eccentricadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsentrɪk/
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
fairylandnounUS /ˈferilænd/
something existing solely in the imagination (but often mistaken for reality)
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
set up or found
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
a young female
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
grandes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TEATIME IN ARCADIA.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
the sound of laughing
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
Marchant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
on one occasion
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
passionsnounUS /ˈpæʃənz/
plural of “passion” — a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
Pharaoh's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
puffverbUS /pʌf/
smoke and exhale strongly
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
SerpentsnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənts/
plural of “serpent” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
springingverbUS /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
sylphs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
TEATIMEnoun
a light midafternoon meal of tea and sandwiches or cakes
From this reading TEATIME IN ARCADIA.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
TitanianounUS /təˈtɑːnjə/
a white powder used as a pigment for its high covering power and durability
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
Vansittart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
at the time that
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It was long since Vansittart had been haunted by the face of a woman as he was haunted by the face of Eve Marchant.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading This time he wondered at his own feelings when he found himself so deeply interested in the girl he always thought of as Titania.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading He was inclined to ascribe this sudden interest to the eccentric manner of their first meeting, the three pretty faces springing out of a turn in the wooded road, like sylphs in fairyland, the light, silvery laughter, and the something of sadness in the fate of this bright, light-hearted girl which appealed to his deeper feelings.
a late time of life
From this reading He had not come to nine and twenty years of age without one or two _grandes passions_, which had begun out of a mere fancy, a glance--like one of those once fashionable toys called Pharaoh’s Serpents--had swollen to colossal dimensions, and had ended, like the serpent, in a puff of smoke.
