All 40 Uses of
resolve
in
David Copperfield
- My mother drew my right hand forward, but I was resolved, for my former reason, not to give it him, and I did not.
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- ...the perfect realization of Captain Somebody, of the Royal British Navy, in danger of being beset by savages, and resolved to sell his life at a great price.
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)
- Therefore I resolved to keep myself as much out of their way as I could; and many a wintry hour did I hear the church clock strike, when I was sitting in my cheerless bedroom, wrapped in my little great-coat, poring over a book.
Chpt 7-9 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- Peggotty was resolved that it should be quietly done; and the clerk had given her away, and there had been no witnesses of the ceremony.†
Chpt 10-12 (definition 2)
- At last Mrs. Micawber resolved to move into the prison, where Mr. Micawber had now secured a room to himself.
Chpt 10-12 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- I had resolved to run away.
Chpt 10-12 (definition 2) *resolved = definitely decided
- One of our men, however, informing me on my asking him about these places, that they were all close together, I deemed this enough for my object, and resolved to set out at the end of that week.
Chpt 10-12 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- Feeling that I could go but a very little way that day, if I were to reserve any strength for getting to my journey's end, I resolved to make the sale of my jacket its principal business.
Chpt 13-15 (definition 2)
- For these sufficient reasons I resolve to fight the butcher.
Chpt 16-18 (definition 2)resolve = decide; or decision
- Being then in a pleasant frame of mind (from which I infer that poisoning is not always disagreeable in some stages of the process), I resolved to go to the play.
Chpt 19-21 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- As it contained matter on which I thought Steerforth could advise me as well as anyone, and on which I knew I should be delighted to consult him, I resolved to make it a subject of discussion on our journey home.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 2)
- If a client were slow to settle his bill of costs, Mr. Jorkins was resolved to have it paid; and however painful these things might be (and always were) to the feelings of Mr. Spenlow, Mr. Jorkins would have his bond.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- On somebody's motion, we resolved to go downstairs to the dress-boxes, where the ladies were.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- I shut him out on the landing to wait for the answer, and went into my chambers again, in such a nervous state that I was fain to lay the letter down on my breakfast table, and familiarize myself with the outside of it a little, before I could resolve to break the seal.
Chpt 25-27 (definition 2)resolve = decide; or decision
- An opportune double knock at the door, which I knew well from old experience in Windsor Terrace, and which nobody but Mr. Micawber could ever have knocked at that door, resolved any doubt in my mind as to their being my old friends.
Chpt 25-27 (definition 3) *resolved = settled
- Mr. Micawber told us, that when he heard her sing the first one, on the first occasion of his seeing her beneath the parental roof, she had attracted his attention in an extraordinary degree; but that when it came to Little Tafflin, he had resolved to win that woman or perish in the attempt.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- Whether it was because we had sat there so long, or because Steerforth was resolved not to lose the advantage he had gained, I do not know; but we did not remain in the dining-room more than five minutes after her departure.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- It was not difficult for me, on Peggotty's solicitation, to resolve to stay where I was, until after the remains of the poor carrier should have made their last journey to Blunderstone.
Chpt 31-33 (definition 2)resolve = decide; or decision
- From the circumstance of the latter article having been much polished, and displaying prismatic colours on the inside, I conclude that Mr. Barkis had some general ideas about pearls, which never resolved themselves into anything definite.
Chpt 31-33 (definition 3)resolved = settled or solved
- Had I left the room a minute, when his man told me that "Young Innocence" (so he called you, and you may call him "Old Guilt" all the days of your life) had set his heart upon her, and she was giddy and liked him, but his master was resolved that no harm should come of it — more for your sake than for hers — and that that was their business here?
Chpt 31-33 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- Traddles reasonably supposed that this would settle the business; but I, only feeling that here indeed were a few tall trees to be hewn down, immediately resolved to work my way on to Dora through this thicket, axe in hand.
Chpt 34-36 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- We resolved that she should go to Dora the first thing in the morning, and find some means of assuring her, either by looks or words, of my devotion and misery.
Chpt 37-39 (definition 2)
- Resolved to mention name of D. C. Introduced same, cautiously, in course of airing.†
Chpt 37-39 (definition 2)
- And he said all this — I knew, as I saw his face in the moonlight — that I might understand he was resolved to recompense himself by using his power.
Chpt 37-39 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- 'Stay!' said Miss Lavinia, holding up her hand; 'we resolved, before we had the pleasure of receiving you two gentlemen, to leave you alone for a quarter of an hour, to consider this point.'
Chpt 40-42 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- She was laughingly resolved to put Jip through the whole of his performances, before the coach came.
Chpt 40-42 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- 'I am only trying to show you, my dear, that you must — you really must' (I was resolved not to give this up) — 'accustom yourself to look after Mary Anne.'
Chpt 43-45 (definition 1) *
- This was a common phrase of words which had a fair and promising sound, and I resolved to form Dora's mind.
Chpt 46-48 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- On further consideration this appeared so likely, that I abandoned my scheme, which had had a more promising appearance in words than in action; resolving henceforth to be satisfied with my child-wife, and to try to change her into nothing else by any process.
Chpt 46-48 (definition 2)resolving = deciding
- I resolved to do what I could, in a quiet way, to improve our proceedings myself, but I foresaw that my utmost would be very little, or I must degenerate into the spider again, and be for ever lying in wait.
Chpt 46-48 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- 'But mark!' she added, slowly and sternly, opening the other door to go away, 'I am resolved, for reasons that I have and hatreds that I entertain, to cast you out, unless you withdraw from my reach altogether, or drop your pretty mask.'
Chpt 49-51 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- I therefore resolved to put myself in his way next evening, as he came home from his work.
Chpt 49-51 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- In short, we had resolved to take this course, when Dora again unsettled us by declaring that she never would forgive herself, and never would forgive her bad boy, if my aunt remained behind, on any pretence.
Chpt 52-54 (definition 2)
- This grew so strong with me, that I resolved to go back to the yard before I took my dinner, and ask the boat-builder if he thought his attempting to return by sea at all likely?
Chpt 55-57 (definition 2)
- At length, the steady ticking of the undisturbed clock on the wall tormented me to that degree that I resolved to go to bed.
Chpt 55-57 (definition 2)
- The three months gone, I resolved to remain away from home for some time longer; to settle myself for the present in Switzerland, which was growing dear to me in the remembrance of that evening; to resume my pen; to work.
Chpt 58-60 (definition 2)
- I endeavoured to convert what might have been between myself and Agnes, into a means of making me more self-denying, more resolved, more conscious of myself, and my defects and errors.
Chpt 58-60 (definition 1)resolved = determined (having firm purpose or having firmly decided)
- However, I heard so repeatedly, in the course of our goings to and fro, of a certain Number Twenty Seven, who was the Favourite, and who really appeared to be a Model Prisoner, that I resolved to suspend my judgement until I should see Twenty Seven.
Chpt 61-62 (definition 2)resolved = decided
- I resolved to set this right beyond all doubt; — if such a barrier were between us, to break it down at once with a determined hand.
Chpt 61-62 (definition 2)
- There was greater reason than before to do what I had resolved to do.
Chpt 61-62 (definition 2)
Definitions:
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(1) (resolve as in: Her resolve weakened.) firmness of purpose (strong determination to do something)
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(2) (resolve as in: I resolved to stop drinking.) to decide -- typically a firm or formal decisioneditor's notes: In modern writing resolve is typically used to emphasize a firm or formal decision. In classic literature, it is used more frequently and often simply replaces decide or determine.
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(3) (resolve as in: How was the problem resolved?) to solve a problem, settle a disagreement, or for a situation to change