Chapter IX

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

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

(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 Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

past form of “collide” — be incompatible; be or come into conflict

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

informal or slang terms for mentally irregular

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

of metal e.g.

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

a large number or amount

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

a person who lived during the reign of Elizabeth I

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

being ten more than thirty

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the number of occurrences within a given time period

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the act of departing

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

plural of “invitation” — a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

immediately past

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

a part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

above and across; more than

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

plural of “size” — the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

the underside of footwear or a golf club

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading A fancy-dress ball had been arranged for the last night.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

create by training and teaching

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

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

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

which person or people

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

(used as an intensifier) extremely well

From this reading Colin came into the wife’s room in a wonderfully good humour that morning to talk over the manner of their appearance.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading There were already some forty guests in the house, who, as Colin said, would form “a sort of nucleus,” and a special train was coming down from town arriving at ten and going back at three in the morning, and invitations had been sent to the neighbourhood for twenty miles round, with the hope that ladies and gentlemen would be Elizabethan, but begging the ladies not to be Elizabeth.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Dozens of Elizabeths, he thought, of all shapes and sizes with crumpled ruffs and jewels off crackers were bewildering, and you collided with the Queen with improbable frequency.

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

From this reading Instead Violet was to be the sole Elizabeth present, and Dennis was to appear as her young Colin in attendance.