used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
actsnounUS /ækts/
a New Testament book describing the development of the early church from Christ's Ascension to Paul's sojourn at Rome
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
(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 Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
AmidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
antagonistnounUS /ænˈtæɡənəst/
someone who offers opposition
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/
plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
attachmentnounUS /əˈtætʃmənt/
a feeling of affection for a person or an institution
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
BonapartenounUS /ˈboʊnəpɑːrt/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
borderingverbUS /ˈbɔːrdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “border” — extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
canvassverbUS /ˈkænvəs/
get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
ConsulnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəl/
a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
seemingly without interruption
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
deficiencynounUS /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
differedverbUS /ˈdɪfərd/
past form of “differ” — be different
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
dismissverbUS /dɪˈsmɪs/
bar from attention or consideration
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
enigmanounUS /ɪˈnɪɡmə/
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
divisible by two
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
eventfuladjectiveUS /ɪˈventfəl/
full of events or incidents
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
exaggeratingverbUS /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “exaggerate” — to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
idolatrynounUS /aɪˈdɑːlətri/
the worship of idols; the worship of physical objects or images as gods
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
intriguenounUS /ˌɪnˈtriːɡ/
a crafty and involved plot to achieve your (usually sinister) ends
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
immediately past
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
levitynounUS /ˈlevɪti/
feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
measuresnounUS /ˈmeʒərz/
plural of “measure” — any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
misgivingsnounUS /mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋz/
plural of “misgiving” — uneasiness about the fitness of an action
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
a particular point in time
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
not any; not one
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
permittingverbUS /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
continue talking
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
puzzlesnounUS /ˈpʌzəlz/
plural of “puzzle” — a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
on the contrary
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
recurredverbUS /riˈkɜːrd/
inflected form of “recur” — happen or occur again
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
rencontre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
reprehensibleadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈhensəbəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
reproached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
ridiculingverbUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːlɪŋ/
-ing form of “ridicule” — subject to laughter or ridicule
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
except for; apart from
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
soireenounUS /swɑːˈreɪ/
a party of people assembled in the evening (usually at a private house)
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
express in speech
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
not in physical motion
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
tamelyadverb
in a tame manner
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
TotallyadverbUS /ˈtoʊtəli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
unaccustomedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd/
unusual or unfamiliar
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
usagesnounUS /ˈjuːsədʒəz/
plural of “usage” — the act of using
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
weighverbUS /weɪ/
have a certain weight
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And if the spirit in which they discussed the acts of Bonaparte differed from what I had been accustomed to, might it not rather proceed from my own want of acquaintance with the usages of society, than any deficiency in attachment on their sides?
in or at the place that
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
belonging to which person
From this reading The tone of levity in which they dared to speak of him whose name was to me something bordering on idolatry,--the liberty with which they ventured to canvass his measures and his opinions, even to ridiculing them,--were so many puzzles to my mind; and I half reproached myself for having tamely listened to language which now, as I thought over it, seemed to demand my notice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was not, indeed, without certain misgivings, which I could neither account for nor dismiss from my mind, that I reflected on the character and conversation of my new associates.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had witnessed; now on that eventful moment I spent behind the screen; then on my strange rencontre with my antagonist, and that still stranger supper that followed it.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Totally ignorant of all political intrigue,--unconscious that any party did or could exist in France save that of the First Consul himself,--I could find no solution to the enigma, and at last began to think that I had been exaggerating to myself the words I had heard, and permitting my ignorance to weigh with me, where with more knowledge I should have seen nothing reprehensible.
