Chapter IV

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

later than; following

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

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

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

in a courageous manner

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

past form of “caress” — touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

breathe with great difficulty, as when experiencing a strong emotion

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

demanding attention

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

in an encouraging manner

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

at any time

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

for a limitless time

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

in a forlorn manner

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

set up or found

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

in a willing manner

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

crowded or massed together

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

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

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

immediately past

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

go away from a place

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

a compact mass

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

a particular point in time

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

a person who requires medical care

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

on the contrary

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

get something; come into possession of

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

To recall to mind.

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

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

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

be hungry; go without food

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading All the morning they squatted forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of his or her king or sovereign

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

at the time that

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading Her mother caressed her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading And it was small wonder that she felt she would gladly starve with them rather than pay such a terrible price for bread.

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

From this reading Long before the sun was up Tuen and her mother were huddled together, talking in low tones about the wealth Niu would receive from the Viceroy, and Tuen ever found herself planning what they would do when they went back to their native town, and then she would suddenly remember that she would not be with them, and a great lump would come up into her throat and choke her.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother.