Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

not being in a specified place

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

later than; following

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading "I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK."

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

eagerly desirous

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

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

From this reading "I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK."

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

lacking or showing a lack of due concern

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during holiday-time."

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during holiday-time."

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

not invading healthy tissue

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during holiday-time."

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

move gently or carefully

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

the act of forming or establishing something

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

a competitor thought likely to win

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

a gay feeling

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

the act of giving

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during holiday-time."

plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

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

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

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

From this reading "I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK."

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

a slight illness

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

someone who asks a question

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

a message describing how something is to be done

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during holiday-time."

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

on one occasion

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

and nothing more

From this reading "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during holiday-time."

above and across; more than

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

by chance

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

of superior grade

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during holiday-time."

express in speech

From this reading "I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK."

not in physical motion

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

the rays of the sun

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK."

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

very small

From this reading "Confined to the house through indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the tiny favourite.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.

belonging to which person

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading A few scholars still remained absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of sunlight in the dingy school-room.

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

From this reading The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies.