Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

how long something has existed

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

(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 John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

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

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

the two together, not just one

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

third-person singular of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

in a sincere and heartfelt manner

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

render capable or able for some task

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

marked by imagination, initiative, and readiness to undertake new projects

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

plural of “entreaty” — earnest or urgent request

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

deserving of respect or high regard

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

plural of “exertion” — use of physical or mental energy; hard work

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

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

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

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

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

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

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

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

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

characterized by hard work and perseverance

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

having or proceeding from an innately kind disposition

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

possessive form of “lee” — United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

held dear

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading THE NEW WORLD.

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

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

and nothing more

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

recurring again and again

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

get by special effort

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

the act of searching for something

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

showing reason or sound judgment

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

in the near future

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

not in physical motion

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

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

From this reading THE NEW WORLD.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

(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 John soon perceived that all his brother-in-law's exertions in England would never enable him to provide as well for his children, nor for the old age of himself and wife, as he could in America.

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

From this reading They both loved their children dearly, and were unceasing in their efforts to secure their happiness and prosperity.

which person or people

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Mr. Lee was a religious, kind-hearted, sensible man, and his wife as truly estimable as himself.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading THE NEW WORLD.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

a late time of life

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.

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

From this reading Still it is possible they would never have thought of seeking fortune in the wild back-woods of the United States, had it not been for the repeated entreaties of Mrs. Lee's only brother, John Gale, an industrious, enterprising young man, who had gone there some four years before this tale commences.