Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

later than; following

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

eagerly desirous

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

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

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading MRS BAGGETT.

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

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

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

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

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

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

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

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

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

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

a county of southern England on the English Channel

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

the lack of knowledge or education

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

the literary culture

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

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 Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

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

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading MRS BAGGETT.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

a man who delivers the mail

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

one of four equal parts

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

Identical; not different.

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

filled with satisfaction

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

-ing form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

required or under orders

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

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

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

precisely as stated

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading He always breakfasted exactly at nine, and the letters were supposed to be brought to him at a quarter past.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

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

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was satisfied in his ignorance with 9.15 A.M., but on this occasion the post-boy, as usual, was ten minutes after that time.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Mr William Whittlestaff was strolling very slowly up and down the long walk at his country seat in Hampshire, thinking of the contents of a letter which he held crushed up within his trousers' pocket.

a late time of life

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.

but in spite of that

From this reading The postman was really due at his hall-door at a quarter before nine; but though he had lived in the same house for above fifteen years, and though he was a man very anxious to get his letters, he had never yet learned the truth about them.