Chapter VI

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

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

not being in a specified place

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

used to show sadness, pity, or regret

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

(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 A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

disposed to please

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

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

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

expected hopefully

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

see with attention

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

dearly loved

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

plural of “blessing” — the formal act of approving

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

dearly loved

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a small wooded hollow

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

well in the past; former

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

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

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

at any time

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

-ing form of “except” — take exception to

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

a social unit living together

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

unflinching in battle or action

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

abounding in grass

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

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

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

favorable to life and growth

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

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

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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 A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

plural of “knight” — originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

immediately past

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

the sound of laughing

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

remain present although waning or gradually dying

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

feeling or showing love and affection

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

possessing qualities befitting a man

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

impressive in appearance

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a sheltered and secluded place

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

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

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

on one occasion

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading Each nook and dell of that fair Park is engraven on my heart of hearts.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

Italian painter whose many paintings exemplify the ideals of the High Renaissance (1483-1520)

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

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

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

an elevated geological formation

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

having a supporting base

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

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

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

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

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

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

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

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

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

in the direction of

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

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

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

impressive by reason of age

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

characterized by abundance of verdure

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

plural of “vision” — a vivid mental image

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

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

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

look attentively

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading +A RAILWAY JOURNEY+ THE country homes of old England, standing amid their ancestral trees, what visions of quiet happiness do they recall to my mind!

in or at the place that

From this reading On this grassy slope, I walked with Mary, as she bent her steps toward the village, where the poor awaited her with blessings.

which person or people

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

belonging to which person

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Memory loves to linger before thy hospitable portal, oh, Rookwood! and hear once more the kindly greeting of the amiable and affectionate family, some of whose members, alas! now sleep their last sleep—the others are dead, at least to me; for “The absent are the dead, for they are cold, And ne’er can we what once we did behold; And they are changed—” Far more so, than the departed, who ever watch us with their loving eyes, changeless, immortal.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.

but in spite of that

From this reading A verdant spot in life’s desert was that dear home to me, whose halls ever resounded with the cheerful laughter of its happy and beloved inmates—the sisters all that women ought to be—the brothers, noble, manly, and gallant as the knights of old—the venerable father, indulgent, yet firm as a rock—the mother, whom I never knew, excepting by her portrait, a lovely countenance, gentle and tender as a Madonna of Raphael.