portionless

Yet such conduct, however unusual, was equally inconsistent with any sinister intentions; since the sacrifice of a large sum of money, and the declaration of his views upon a portionless young lady of family, could scarcely be the preface to any unfair practice.

Saint Ronan's Well 2008

Ignorant who were my parents, doubtful whether the alliance might not prove disgraceful to him — portionless, except for the bounty of my benefactress — unclaimed, unacknowledged by any one; how could I hope to be received into her family under these disadvantageous circumstances?

The Curate and His Daughter, a Cornish Tale 2008

She had often protested, in their former conflicts, that had Cecilia been portionless, her objections had been less than to an estate so conditioned; and that to give to her son a woman so exalted in herself, she would have conquered the mere opposition of interest, though that of family honour she held invincible.

Cecilia 2008

As for the poor, portionless girls, they may die or go mad, without a soul to pity them.

A Woman of Thirty 2007

I owe it to myself, that I, a friendless, portionless, girl, with a blight upon my name, should not give your friends reason to suspect that I had sordidly yielded to your first passion, and fastened myself, a clog, on all your hopes and projects.

Oliver Twist 2007

As it was, if the child was a daughter she would be portionless.

Farthing 2006

LITTLE too good to play crown pints at cards, and never get paid when we won; or to go dangling after the portionless gals, or amuse ourselves with slops and penny-wist along with the old ladies.

The Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush 2006

George, always the champion of his regiment, rose immensely in the opinion of the youth of the corps, by his gallantry in marrying this portionless young creature, and by his choice of such a pretty kind partner.

Vanity Fair 2006

"I would rather be a serf on the land of a poor and portionless man than rule over all the dead who have come to naught."

The Republic by Plato ; translated by Benjamin Jowett 2006

Other figures, such as the dog, or the marriage of the portionless maiden, or the drones and wasps in the eighth and ninth books, also form links of connexion in long passages, or are used to recall previous discussions.

The Republic by Plato ; translated by Benjamin Jowett 2006