Chapter XI · A Dilemma

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

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

later than; following

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

comparative of “all” — (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 It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

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

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

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

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste in manners and conduct

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

put on clothes

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

set up or found

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

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

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

plural of “hotel” — a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

the lack of knowledge or education

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

immediately past

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

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

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

engage in

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

according to the clock

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

and nothing more

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

by chance

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

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

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

someone who rides the near horse of a pair in order to guide the horses pulling a carriage (especially a carriage without a coachman)

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

set aside for the use of a particular person or party

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

express in words

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

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

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

in the near future

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was nearly five o’clock when I arrived, and I had only time to make some slight change in my dress when the bell sounded for table d’hôte.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

a person who changes location

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

hard to endure

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

precisely as stated

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

at the time that

From this reading It seemed to me, in my then ignorance, like a _pis aller_, when the postillion said, ‘Let us try the “France,”’ and little prepared me for the handsome, but somewhat small, hotel before me.

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

From this reading The guests were already seated when I entered, but a place had been reserved for me, which completed the table.

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

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading It was in the month of May--I won’t confess to the year--that I found myself, after trying various hotels in the Place Royale, at last deposited at the door of the Hôtel de France.

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

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading I was a young--perhaps after reading a little farther you’ll say a _very young_--traveller at the time, but was soon struck by the quiet and decorous style in which the dinner was conducted.