Chapter IX

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

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

later than; following

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

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

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

established by authority; given authoritative approval

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

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

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

under normal conditions

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

an awkward clash

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

a religious residence especially for nuns

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

a female human offspring

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

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

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

the organ of sight

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading No one liked to face him.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

having an easygoing and cheerful disposition

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

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

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading No one liked to face him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

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

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading No one liked to face him.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

of or relating to or produced by lymph

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

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

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

not any; not one

From this reading No one liked to face him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ON THE TRAIL.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No one liked to face him.

in an open way

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

above and across; more than

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

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

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

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

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

one of four equal parts

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

shaken into waves or undulations as by wind

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

in a serious manner

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

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

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

plural of “temper” — a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL.

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

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

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

From this reading No one liked to face him.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading ON THE TRAIL.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

precisely as stated

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

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

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

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

From this reading General Prioleau was not the pleasantest company the morning after the Convent ball.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.

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

From this reading Although commonly counted an easy-going good-natured man, whom nothing seriously ruffled for long, he was this day evidently in the vilest of tempers.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading His wife was well aware of the cause of his anger, and in her own lymphatic way approved it, but the general had given her a very bad quarter of an hour over the whole affair, and had openly told her that if she had shown a little more energy, and had kept a more vigilant eye upon her daughter, any such _contretemps_ as this could not have occurred.