Chapter XV

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

in an enjoyable manner

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

(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 was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

intending or showing kindness

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

(of a surface) not written or printed on

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

plural of “disorder” — a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

with sadness; in a sorrowful manner

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

past form of “exempt” — grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

a social unit living together

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

a boy or man

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

not having enough money to pay for necessities

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

in an inconvenient manner

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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 He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

a form of address for a man

From this reading MR.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

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

From this reading NAMBY’S PRESCRIPTION.

easily agitated

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

not any; not one

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

a local church community

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

plural of “patient” — a person who requires medical care

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

someone who practices a learned profession

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions

From this reading NAMBY’S PRESCRIPTION.

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

cause to go somewhere

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

a request to be present

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

in or at that place or location

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

(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 patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.

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

From this reading He was much too benevolent a man to desire the misfortune of his fellow creatures; but he thought that those favoured ones of this world, whom Providence has exempted from all the cares of the impecunious majority, ought at least to be troubled with such small nervous disorders as would keep the faculty employed.

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

From this reading IN the dark days of December, Mr. Namby, the family practitioner and parish doctor of Little Yafford, was agreeably surprised by a summons to the Water House.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading His patients there had been inconveniently well for the greater part of the year, and he had been looking somewhat dolefully at the blank leaf in his diary which told him that he should have no account worth speaking of to send in to Mr. Harefield at Christmas.