adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
affectionnounUS /əˈfekʃən/
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
AngelnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəl/
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
bearverbUS /ber/
have
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
bequestsnounUS /bɪˈkwests/
plural of “bequest” — (law) a gift of personal property by will
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
charmnounUS /tʃɑːrm/
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
constantlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnstəntli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
contentsnounUS /ˈkɑːntents/
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
criedverbUS /kraɪd/
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/
a female human offspring
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
denounUS /diː/
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
difficultiesnounUS /ˈdɪfəkəltiz/
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
Dinah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
father-in-lawnounUS /ˈfɑːðərɪnlɔː/
the father of your spouse
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
fatherlyadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːðərli/
like or befitting a father or fatherhood; kind and protective
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
favorverbUS /ˈfeɪvər/
promote over another
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
franknessnounUS /ˈfræŋknəs/
the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
gracenounUS /ɡreɪs/
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
Grollman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
half-brothernoun
a brother who has only one parent in common with you
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
happinessnounUS /ˈhæpinəs/
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
hurriedadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːrid/
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
intelligencenounUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəns/
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
invalidateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvælɪdeɪt/
declare invalid
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
JosephnounUS /ˈdʒoʊsəf/
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
justifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/
having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
lawsuitnounUS /ˈlɔːsuːt/
a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
leaveverbUS /liːv/
go away from a place
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
MadamenounUS /ˈmædəm/
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
marriagenounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
masternounUS /ˈmæstər/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
Mirouet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
of an obscure nature
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
packagenounUS /ˈpækədʒ/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
Portenduere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
postverbUS /poʊst/
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
promiseverbUS /ˈprɑːməs/
make a promise or commitment
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
rascalnounUS /ˈræskəl/
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
resemblancenounUS /rɪˈzembləns/
similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
secureverbUS /sɪˈkjʊr/
get by special effort
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
sonnounUS /sʌn/
a male human offspring
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
testamentaryadjectiveUS /ˌtestəˈmentəri/
of or relating to a will or testament or bequeathed by a will or testament
From this reading Your position as the daughter of a natural son of my father-in-law might invalidate all testamentary bequests made by me in your favor-- “The old rascal!” cried the post master.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
thusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
transmittingnounUS /trænˈsmɪtɪŋ/
the act of sending a message; causing a message to be transmitted
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
Ursula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
weightedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪtɪd/
made heavy or weighted down with weariness
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
wishingnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/
a specific feeling of desire
From this reading Having weighted these difficulties carefully, and wishing to leave you enough money to secure to you a prosperous existence-- “The scoundrel, he has thought of everything!”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Had I adopted you the result might also have been a lawsuit, and I shrank from the idea of transmitting my fortune to you by marriage, for I might live years and thus interfere with your happiness, which is now delayed only by Madame de Portenduere.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother, Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:-- My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and charm you constantly recall to my mind.
