Chapter XV

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

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

from one side of something to the other

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

(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 "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

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

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

plural of “baronet” — a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

move up and down repeatedly

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

noisy like the sound of a bee

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

plural of “dance” — an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

first in order of birth

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

an agenda of things to do

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

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

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

be excessively hot

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

based on pretense; deceptively pleasing

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the act of departing

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

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

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Pauline tosses her pretty head.

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

From this reading Pauline tosses her pretty head.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

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 "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

plural of “lieutenant” — a commissioned military officer

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

plural of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the most important league in any sport (especially baseball)

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

not any; not one

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

relating to Paul the Apostle or his doctrines

From this reading Pauline tosses her pretty head.

a light shade of red

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

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

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading Pauline tosses her pretty head.

plural of “regular” — a regular patron

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

Identical; not different.

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

small or little relative to something else

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

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

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

plural of “toss” — the act of flipping a coin

From this reading Pauline tosses her pretty head.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

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

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."

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

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

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

From this reading "There, Bob--there was my bill of fare for the night"--throwing a glossy pink card across the table--"two lords, three baronets--at least, eldest sons of baronets--a colonel, a couple of majors, no end of smaller fry, captains, lieutenants, militia and regulars, for whom of course I hadn't dances, though they kept buzzing about me half the night, all the same."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Bravo, Polly--you have been going it, and no mistake!

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

From this reading I thought you'd have been a wall-flower, knowing so few, being fresh 'on the flure,' and all that."