Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

anew

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

(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 “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

having life or vigor or spirit

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

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

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

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

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

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

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

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

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

at any time

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

getting higher or more vigorous

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

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

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

the literary culture

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

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

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

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

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

moving quickly and lightly

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

not any; not one

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

not divisible by two

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

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

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

above and across; more than

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

a person who requires medical care

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

having a round shape tapered at one end

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

look furtively

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

deliberately deviant

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

represented accurately or precisely

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

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

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

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

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

move unobtrusively or furtively

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

make square

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

carry out

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

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

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

unsteady in gait as from infirmity or old age

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

having three angles; forming or shaped like a triangle

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

hard to endure

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

exceptionally

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

on a floor above

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

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

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

(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 “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

at the time that

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

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

From this reading “Well, Charley,” said I, looking over a copy of the letter O in which it was represented as square, triangular, pear-shaped, and collapsed in all kinds of ways, “we are improving.

which person or people

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

belonging to which person

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Nurse and Patient I had not been at home again many days when one evening I went upstairs into my own room to take a peep over Charley’s shoulder and see how she was getting on with her copy-book.

marked by wrinkles

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.

the act of creating written works

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading Writing was a trying business to Charley, who seemed to have no natural power over a pen, but in whose hand every pen appeared to become perversely animated, and to go wrong and crooked, and to stop, and splash, and sidle into corners like a saddle-donkey.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet Charley was uncommonly expert at other things and had as nimble little fingers as I ever watched.

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

From this reading It was very odd to see what old letters Charley’s young hand had made, they so wrinkled, and shrivelled, and tottering, it so plump and round.