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The Virginians
The Virginians

Chapter XXXI · In which Cupid plays a Considerable Part

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Context Illustration Reading 1/90 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.
For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?
How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?
That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.
Now stop before you condemn her utterly.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Virginians

Chapter XXXI · In which Cupid plays a Considerable Part

Reading 1/90 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.
Line 2
For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?
Line 3
How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?
Line 4
That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.
Line 5
Now stop before you condemn her utterly.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?”

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.”

Mysterious adjective US /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading “We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.”

Score noun US /score/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.”

Suppose noun US /ˈsuppose/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?”

All words in this reading · 116

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

actually

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

ago

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

back

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

birth

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

blush

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

brother

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

chapel

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

condemn

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

From this reading Now stop before you condemn her utterly.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

divine

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

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

doings

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

Esmond

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

exactly

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

exceedingly

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

experience

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

explaining

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

face

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

fall

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

family

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

far

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

finger-tips

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

forget

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

history

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

how

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

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

indeed

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

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

indissoluble

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

innocent

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

junior

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

knot

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

Lady

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

letter

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

love

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

low

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

Lydia

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

many

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

Maria

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

marry

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

mature

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

Mayfair

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

Miss

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

months

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

Mr

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

noble

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From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

now

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

oh

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

only

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

origin

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From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

pair

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From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

Parson

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From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

people

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

perform

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

person

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

persons

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

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

privily

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

proceed

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

readers

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

refers

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

respectable

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

Sampson

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

scorenounUS /score/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

seen

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

sentence

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

simple

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

some

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

speak

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

stop

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

From this reading Now stop before you condemn her utterly.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

tied

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

From this reading That is, not exactly in the face, but behind the back of the world, so to speak; for Parson Sampson privily tied the indissoluble knot for the pair at his chapel in Mayfair.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

utterly

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

From this reading Now stop before you condemn her utterly.

very

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

Warrington's

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

well-regulated

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

From this reading For how, indeed, could well-regulated persons divine such a secret?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading We must now, however, and before we proceed with the history of Miss Lydia and her doings, perform the duty of explaining that sentence in Mr. Warrington's letter to his brother which refers to Lady Maria Esmond, and which, to some simple readers, may be still mysterious.

woman

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

world

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

write

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

years

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Now stop before you condemn her utterly.

young

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

From this reading How could innocent and respectable young people suppose that a woman of noble birth, of ancient family, of mature experience,--a woman whom we have seen exceedingly in love only a score of months ago,--should so far forget herself as (oh, my very finger-tips blush as I write the sentence!)--as not only to fall in love with a person of low origin, and very many years her junior, but actually to marry him in the face of the world?