Chapter II · Chapter 2

(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 If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading He was brim-full of belief in himself, to begin with.

any cognitive content held as true

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading He was brim-full of belief in himself, to begin with.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

the state of being certain

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

a property characteristic of a child

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading He was coming to make his fortune.

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading He was coming to make his fortune.

coins made of gold

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He was brim-full of belief in himself, to begin with.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

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

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

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

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

engage in

From this reading He was coming to make his fortune.

not any; not one

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

covered with a firm surface

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading That went without saying.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

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

From this reading He was coming to make his fortune.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

(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 We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

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

From this reading That went without saying.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

which person or people

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

in the company of; together with

From this reading We who live in London know well enough that its streets are not paved with gold.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading That went without saying.

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

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.

but in spite of that

From this reading If one had asked Christopher his opinion on that point, he would no doubt have laughed at the childishness of the question, yet he came up to London with all the confidence and certainty which the old childish belief could have inspired.