Chapter II

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

in the past

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

(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 The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

plural of “beetle” — insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

(according to Marxist thought) being of the property-owning class and exploitive of the working class

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading The square in which it stood was steadily coming down in the world.

-ing form of “decay” — lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current

From this reading It was a prematurely old and decaying house in a decaying quarter.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

plural of “family” — a social unit living together

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

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

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

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

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

ten 10s

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

refuse to acknowledge

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

involving invasion or aggressive attack

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a prematurely old and decaying house in a decaying quarter.

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

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

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

make less visible or unclear

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

held or filled or in use

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading It was a prematurely old and decaying house in a decaying quarter.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

on one occasion

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

(of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation

From this reading It was a prematurely old and decaying house in a decaying quarter.

one of four equal parts

From this reading It was a prematurely old and decaying house in a decaying quarter.

affected with, suffering from, or characteristic of rickets

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

in an impolite manner

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

concerned with religion or religious purposes

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

plural of “slum” — a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

separate into parts or portions

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

morally degraded

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

make square

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading The square in which it stood was steadily coming down in the world.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The square in which it stood was steadily coming down in the world.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Gumbril senior occupied a tall, narrow-shouldered and rachitic house in a little obscure square not far from Paddington.

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

From this reading The square in which it stood was steadily coming down in the world.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.

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

From this reading It was a prematurely old and decaying house in a decaying quarter.

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

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

at the time that

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

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

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There were five floors, and a basement with beetles, and nearly a hundred stairs, which shook when any one ran too rudely down them.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The square in which it stood was steadily coming down in the world.

a late time of life

From this reading The houses which a few years ago had all been occupied by respectable families, were now split up into squalid little maisonnettes, and from the neighbouring slums, which along with most other unpleasant things the old bourgeois families had been able to ignore, invading bands of children came to sport on the once sacred pavements.