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Chapter XVII
Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace. The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp. But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap. A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce. He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
next to; at the side of
From this reading “Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.”
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
