Chapter I · The Arrival

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

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

in the past

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

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

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

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

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

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

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

possessive form of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

a young person of either sex

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

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

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

a room used for dining

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

being one more than seven

From this reading Peggy was just eight years old.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

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

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

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

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

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

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

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

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

and nothing more

From this reading Peggy was just eight years old.

either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

being perceived or observed

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

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

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Peggy was just eight years old.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

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

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

United States biochemist (born in England) honored for his discovery that some genes contain introns (born in 1943)

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

express in words

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

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

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

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

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

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

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

make square

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

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

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

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

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Then she noticed that everything round her was new and different from things at home, and she forgot about feeling tired.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

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

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

the upper part of anything

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

create by training and teaching

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.

precisely as stated

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

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

From this reading Peggy was just eight years old.

at the time that

From this reading She had been in the train since early in the morning, and was very tired when the carriage stopped at the door of Seafield.

a late time of life

From this reading One summer afternoon many years ago a child, called Peggy Roberts, arrived at the door of her aunt’s house in an open carriage.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The house was exactly like the tea-caddy that stood on the dining-room side-board at home, and had been brought from China by her uncle—that is to say, it was quite square, and you felt as if you could lift off the top like the lid of the tea-caddy.