v. add something to an object or place, especially in order to make it more attractive
The fat turkey was a sight to behold, when Hannah sent him up, stuffed, browned, and decorated.
The decorations of the boudoir had then been left entirely to Madame Danglars and Lucien Debray.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 47. The Dappled Grays. For an instant it remained motionless as one of the stone decorations of the building, then after a long sigh of disappointment the head disappeared.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 98. The Bell and Bottle Tavern. a. having a faulty; imperfect or incomplete
The learning of this people is very defective, consisting only in morality, history, poetry, and mathematics, wherein they must be allowed to excel.
Gulliver's Travels(V1) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 2: CHAPTER VII. I am not going out under human guidance, subject to the defective laws and erring control of my feeble fellow-worms: my king, my lawgiver, my captain, is the All-perfect.
I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect.
a. fixed, certain, or clear; having distinct limits
My work, which had appeared so vague, so hopelessly diffuse, condensed itself as he proceeded, and assumed a definite form under his shaping hand.
And he proceeded to inform us that his departure from England was now definitively fixed for the ensuing year.
Moreover, before I definitively resolve on quitting England, I will know for certain whether I cannot be of greater use by remaining in it than by leaving it.
n. the divisor of a fraction; the number below the line in a fraction
In a police-office, consequently, we find copying-clerks among many other scribes of various denominations, of which, it seems, our hero was one.
Andersen's Fairy Tales By Hans Christian AndersenContext Highlight In THE SHOES OF FORTUNE For two months the fugitives remained absent; in those two months, Mrs. Linton encountered and conquered the worst shock of what was denominated a brain fever.
He showed me also, in one of his books, the figures of the sun, moon, and stars, the zodiac, the tropics, and polar circles, together with the denominations of many plains and solids.
Gulliver's Travels(V2) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 3: CHAPTER II. v. move downward and lower; come from
v. be connected by a relationship of blood
If he was to have any rest, her husband must once more descend into the garden.
Both he and his company would often descend to ask me questions, and receive my answers.
I now ventured to descend: it was deep dusk; I retired into a corner and sat down on the floor.
a. having lost all hope; very serious or bad
Almost desperate, I asked for half a cake; she again refused.
More desolate, more desperate than ever, it seemed from contrast.
By the way, Jo, I think that little Parker is really getting desperate about Amy.
v. grow or change into a more advanced, larger, or stronger form
v. invent something or bring something into existence
Her mind was less difficult to develop.
My duty will be to develop these germs: surely I shall find some happiness in discharging that office.
Robins are not like human beings; their muscles are always exercised from the first and so they develop themselves in a natural manner.
n. a type of heavy oil used as fuel
n. process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed by the body
As the wafer digested, the tincture mounted to his brain, bearing the proposition along with it.
This scheme I went over twice, thrice; it was then digested in my mind; I had it in a clear practical form: I felt satisfied, and fell asleep.
n. a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two different things
n. training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves
n. a particular area of study, especially a subject studied at a college
Ere long, I had reason to congratulate myself on the course of wholesome discipline to which I had thus forced my feelings to submit.
Dantes, trained in discipline, knew that nothing would be more absurd than to question subordinates, who were forbidden to reply; and so he remained silent.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 8. The Chateau D'If. I was curious to know how this prince, to whose dominions there is no access from any other country, came to think of armies, or to teach his people the practice of military discipline.
Gulliver's Travels(V1) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 2: CHAPTER VII. a. careful not to cause embarrassment or attract a lot of attention; distinguishable
Moreover, he wanted to assure himself that Huck had remained discreet.
Mothers have need of sharp eyes and discreet tongues when they have girls to manage.
I knew such an idea would shock, perhaps offend you; and you were so discreet, and so thoroughly modest and sensible, I hoped you might be trusted to protect yourself.
a. clearly separate or different in shape or form; consisting of unconnected distinct parts
Aye, that is just like your formality and discretion.
Another may be as handsome as a god, but his good looks are not crowned with discretion.
We may as well wait, perhaps, till the circumstance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour thereupon.
n. illness of people, animals, plants, etc
I must tell you that he suffers from a very dangerous disease.
I fancied the discontent of age and disease arose from his family disagreements; as he would have it that it did: really, you know, sir, it was in his sinking frame.
Now, the cabbage had not the slightest appearance of disease in the world, and the rabbit had not the smallest distrust; yet, five minutes afterwards, the rabbit was dead.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 52. Toxicology. v. separate things that have become joined or confused
n. dress or exterior put on for purposes of concealment or of deception
But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence.
In this disguise he entered the city of Troy, and no one said anything to him.
Perhaps this concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done, however, and it was done for the best.
n. a feeling of embarrassment and loss of people's respect
Then do your best to keep our name free from dishonor.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 30. The Fifth of September. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was dishonorable.
Andersen's Fairy Tales By Hans Christian AndersenContext Highlight In THE LEAP-FROG "Blood washes out dishonor," said Morrel.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 30. The Fifth of September. n. substance which kills germs or viruses; agent for removing the causes of infection
v. make someone stop giving their attention to something
Dantes observed, however, that Faria, in spite of the relief his society afforded, daily grew sadder; one thought seemed incessantly to harass and distract his mind.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 17. The Abbe's Chamber. Besides, I believe, between ourselves, she did this in order to distract her mind, that she might forget; and she only filled her head in order to alleviate the weight on her heart.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 27. The Story. I am too ill, and wretched and distracted; but I wish you to be happy and comfortable.
v. upset or bother; trouble emotionally or mentally; put out of order
But I am not going to disturb you; you will want to be trying on your dress, I expect.
In spite of the new sorrow, it was a very happy time, so happy that Laurie could not bear to disturb it by a word.
With many thanks, they said good night and crept in, hoping to disturb no one, but the instant their door creaked, two little nightcaps bobbed up, and two sleepy but eager voices cried out.
a. twice the size, amount, price, etc.
n. a person who looks exactly the same as someone else
Aegyptius, a man bent double with age, and of infinite experience, was the first to speak.
I folded my shawl double, and spread it over me for a coverlet; a low, mossy swell was my pillow.
I should not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness in my eyes.
n. not being certain about something, especially about how good or true it is
They will all be revealed tonight when the Christmas Tree is lit, no doubt.
She lay in that heavy stupor, alike unconscious of hope and joy, doubt and danger.
I doubt not that he too lifts his hands in prayer, for man cannot live without God in the world.
n. a small ring-shaped fried cake
And while she closed with a happy Scriptural flourish, he "hooked" a doughnut.
n. a dark cell, usually underground, where prisoners can be confined
n. an underground prison
He descended fifteen steps, and the door of a dungeon was opened, and he was thrust in.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 8. The Chateau D'If. When the king saw him he fell into a passion, and ordered him to be cast into the deepest dungeon.
And so Dantes, after the Hundred Days and after Waterloo, remained in his dungeon, forgotten of earth and heaven.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 13. The Hundred Days. n. an upright tripod for displaying something, usually an artist's canvas
In this room, too, there was a cabinet piano, quite new and of superior tone; also an easel for painting and a pair of globes.
a. refined and tasteful in style or behavior
You can dress for both, and be as elegant as you please.
I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses.
Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious.
a. easily dealt with; straightforward and fundamental
n. a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness
They all saw the embarrassment and the emotion.
They were too much absorbed in their mutual joy to suffer embarrassment.
Somewhat daunted by this reception, Jo hesitated on the threshold, murmuring in much embarrassment.
v. remove from one country to another, for the purpose of residence; migrate from home
v. confront or meet, especially unexpectedly
He was quite prepared for any such encounter.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 73. The Promise. She possessed eyes whose gaze I delighted to encounter.
Another encounter between you and the master would kill her altogether.
n. a person who hates or opposes another person and tries to harm that person
n. an opposing military force
Sometimes a war is entered upon, because the enemy is too strong; and sometimes, because he is too weak.
But it was decreed by fortune, my perpetual enemy, that so great a felicity should not fall to my share.
Gulliver's Travels(V2) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 4: CHAPTER VII. He could not tell what I meant by secrets of state, where an enemy, or some rival nation, were not in the case.
Gulliver's Travels(V1) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 2: CHAPTER VII. v. supply with light; illuminate
v. make clear to the intellect or conscience; give information to
As we walked home, I would fain have enlightened my charge on the characters of the people we had quitted: but she got it into her head that I was prejudiced against them.
The excellent papa labored under the delusion that he was, and reveled in long discussions with the kindred spirit, till a chance remark of his more observing grandson suddenly enlightened him.
Here the gentlemen interposed with earnest petitions to be further enlightened on these two last-named points; but they got only blushes, ejaculations, tremors, and titters, in return for their importunity.
n. a door, gate, etc. by which you can enter a building or place
I think I must admit so fair a guest when it asks entrance to my heart.
It is impossible where I live; there is no private entrance to my rooms.
When we reached the harbour we found it land-locked under steep cliffs, with a narrow entrance between two headlands.
v. cover or encase something completely
The envelope itself was likewise full.
Mr. Craven read the letter twice before he put it back in its envelope.
Behind the door-keeper walked a woman enveloped in a large veil, which completely concealed her.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 86. The Trial. n. a flat, usually rectangular, container for a letter or thin package
n. any wrapper or covering
The envelope itself was likewise full.
Mr. Craven read the letter twice before he put it back in its envelope.
Behind the door-keeper walked a woman enveloped in a large veil, which completely concealed her.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 86. The Trial. a. relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition
a. relating to or arising from a person's surroundings
v. represent as greater than is actually the case; do something to an excessive degree
Say whatever your memory suggests is true; but add nothing and exaggerate nothing.
There are virtues which become crimes by exaggeration.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 90. The Meeting. He had never caught even a glimpse of the boy and had heard a dozen exaggerated stories about his uncanny looks and ways and his insane tempers.
n. the quality of being outstanding or extremely good
n. an outstanding feature
I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice.
And so it came to pass, that the bird, while out one day, met a fellow bird, to whom he boastfully expatiated on the excellence of his household arrangements.
Grimms' Fairy Tales By The Brothers GrimmContext Highlight In THE MOUSE, THE BIRD, AND THE SAUSAGE Marriage is an excellent thing, after all.
v. prevent something from entering a place or taking part in an activity; reject
And desirous of putting an end to the interview, he pushed by her, and closed the door, as if to exclude the pain he felt.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 9. The Evening of the Betrothal. Morrel, evidently discomposed, came to meet Monte Cristo less with the intention of receiving him than to exclude his entry.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 105. The Cemetery of Pere-la-Chaise. For some days after that evening Mr. Heathcliff shunned meeting us at meals; yet he would not consent formally to exclude Hareton and Cathy.
v. breathe out; send air out of lungs
From these basins the water is continually exhaled by the sun in the daytime, which effectually prevents their overflowing.
Gulliver's Travels(V2) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 3: CHAPTER III. The air is so unusually clear, the clouds sail on so buoyantly, and from the green herbage a fragrance is exhaled that fills me with delight.
Andersen's Fairy Tales By Hans Christian AndersenContext Highlight In THE SHOES OF FORTUNE The violets exhaled their sweet breath, whilst I pressed against the windowpanes covered with fantastic frost-work the copper coin I had heated on the stove, and so made peep-holes.
Andersen's Fairy Tales By Hans Christian AndersenContext Highlight In THE SHOES OF FORTUNE n. the state of being extremely tired
Then, in spite of the wind and rain, he fell into the deep, sweet sleep of utter exhaustion.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 21. The Island of Tiboulen. I held him till the fit exhausted itself.
I tried to walk again: I dragged my exhausted limbs slowly towards it.
a. high in price or charging high prices; costing a lot of money
They apprehended my breaking loose; that my diet would be very expensive, and might cause a famine.
Gulliver's Travels(V1) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 1: CHAPTER II. I suppose that she wanted to get another proof that the place was haunted, at my expense.
The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense.
Andersen's Fairy Tales By Hans Christian AndersenContext Highlight In THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES n. person with a high degree of skill in a certain subject
But nature, it seems, has not been so expert a school-mistress; and these politer pleasures are entirely the productions of art and reason on our side of the globe.
Gulliver's Travels(V2) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 4: CHAPTER VII. v. investigate systematically; search and discover about something
He proposed to explore another passage.
It would be better to explore some of these than bear the weight of the heavy time in idleness.
He had indeed begun to wonder if it might not be wise to send some one out to explore the garden paths.
a. very beautiful and delicate; excellent and flawless
I think I rave in a kind of exquisite delirium.
At these words, uttered with the most exquisite sweetness and politeness, Madame de Morcerf replied.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 41. The Presentation. On the table stood the most exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as she chose, for she had permission to do so.
Andersen's Fairy Tales By Hans Christian AndersenContext Highlight In THE SNOW QUEEN a. well known or easily recognized
Every lawyer is familiar with the fact.
He seemed quite familiar and not the least afraid.
Presently the familiar tramp was heard in the dusk, and she ran out to meet him.
v. cause to be interested or curious; interest someone a lot; captivate
I saw the fascination of the locality.
It seemed to her like a fascinating sort of play.
The robin was evidently in a fascinating, bold mood.
n. physical or mental weariness; exhaustion
Now he took to the road boldly, and as he was light and nimble, he felt no fatigue.
Grimms' Fairy Tales By The Brothers GrimmContext Highlight In THE VALIANT LITTLE TAILOR And as they had been sitting such a long time, their eyes closed with fatigue, and they fell fast asleep.
It was an animating subject, and Mrs. Bennet seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the match.
a. existing only in imagination; feigned; not true or real
a. monetary; relating to money matters
Besides, that does not concern the home but the financial department.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 39. The Guests.