Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

(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 He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

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

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

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

From this reading Elmendorf was an astonished man.

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

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading Elmendorf was an astonished man.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

being joined in close association

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

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

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading He really believed it.

harsh criticism or disapproval

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

with confidence; in a confident manner

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

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

From this reading Elmendorf was an astonished man.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

a boy or man

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

a man of refinement

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

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

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

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

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

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

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He really believed it.

Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

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 It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

a commissioned military officer

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

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

From this reading Elmendorf was an astonished man.

the force of workers available

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

causing disapproval or protest

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

having official authority or sanction

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading He really believed it.

past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

with a sneer; in an uncomplimentary sneering manner

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

relating to human society and its members

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

of high or superior quality or performance

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

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

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

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

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He had confidently told Mrs. Lawrence that the objectionable lieutenant had been ordered off under a cloud of official censure and forbidden to return.

except if; if not

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

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

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.

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

From this reading Elmendorf was an astonished man.

at the time that

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

belonging to which person

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

inflected form of “withhold” — hold back; refuse to hand over or share

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

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

From this reading It was one of his peculiarities that he invariably attached a sinister explanation to every action of his fellow men and women whose social station, at least, was superior to his own, when other explanation was withheld.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He had sneeringly told Miss Wallen that unless the gentleman resigned from the army and returned to be the husband of Miss Allison, he would not return at all.