Chapter XI

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

(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 It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in southern Australia and California

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

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

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

give to in marriage

From this reading And then he would sigh to think that even now it was time to betroth her.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

a female human offspring

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

greatly pleased

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

greatly pleasing or entertaining

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

divisible by two

From this reading And then he would sigh to think that even now it was time to betroth her.

at any time

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

opinion or judgment

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

highest in quality

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

knowledge and intellectual ability

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

shrub or small tree having flattened globose fruit with very sweet aromatic pulp and thin yellow-orange to flame-orange rind that is loose and easily removed; native to southeastern Asia

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

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 It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

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

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

being perceived or observed

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

past form of “obey” — be obedient to

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

on one occasion

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

and nothing more

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

a human being

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

not often

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading And then he would sigh to think that even now it was time to betroth her.

plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

a male human offspring

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And then he would sigh to think that even now it was time to betroth her.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading And then he would sigh to think that even now it was time to betroth her.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

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

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

plural of “tress” — a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

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

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

precisely as stated

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading Now followed the happiest time Tuen had ever known, and as the daughter of the Viceroy she became at once a person of importance.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

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

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading It was such a new, such a delightful sensation to be waited on and noticed and obeyed by the slaves that it took her a good many weeks to get used to it all.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

at the time that

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

in the company of; together with

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

the words that are spoken

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

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

From this reading "He spoke truly," the Viceroy would murmur, "and only the son of a mandarin shall have her in marriage."

but in spite of that

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading The Viceroy in turn, was well pleased with his new daughter, and although she was very fair, with tender, melting almond eyes, and midnight tresses, it was not her beauty so much as her wisdom that delighted him; and when he looked at her he recalled the words of Niu Tsang: "Although she is fair to look upon, and strong with the strength of youth, yet is her intellect, that lamp that so seldom illumes the head of woman, her greatest possession."