Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

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

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

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

From this reading “There they are, Dad.

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

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading “There they are, Dad.

past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

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

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading And they’re passed fit—I know.”

being the right size and shape to fit as desired

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

a narrow platform on which to stand or brace the feet

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

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

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

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

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

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

From this reading And they’re passed fit—I know.”

moving to the inside of something

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

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

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading And they’re passed fit—I know.”

key for raising or drawing back a latch or opening an outside door

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

without good reason

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

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

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

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

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading And they’re passed fit—I know.”

with speed

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

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

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

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

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

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

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

moving very fast

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

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

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

in or at that place or location

From this reading “There they are, Dad.

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

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

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

From this reading And they’re passed fit—I know.”

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

a silly and inept person; someone who is regarded as stupid

From this reading OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift motor-’bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet side-street.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

in or at the place that

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and opened the door.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She turned back into the room with a little sigh.