Chapter II

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

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

later than; following

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

Having no one else present.

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

cattle that are reared for their meat

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

form by carving

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

carefully weighed

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

a room used for dining

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

an agenda of things to do

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

brought together in one place

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

an informal term for a youth or man

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was six o'clock.

an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

(anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion)

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

for more time

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

not any; not one

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

according to the clock

From this reading It was six o'clock.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

precisely, exactly

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

Identical; not different.

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

be seated

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading It was six o'clock.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

in or at that place or location

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

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

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

on a floor above

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading It was the same simple fare daily: soup, a joint, green potatoes, vegetables and a sweet, so that Van der Welcke sometimes said:

precisely as stated

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

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

From this reading It was six o'clock.

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

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

(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 And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

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

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

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

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

which person or people

From this reading And they were now in the dining-room, sitting at the great dinner-table: a table, Constance considered, of strangers--her brother's children--gathered round her husband, who alone had any right to live there, in the old man's house, and to sit at his table....

in the company of; together with

From this reading Constance and Marietje had taken Grandmamma upstairs, for she no longer had her meals with the rest, but went to bed very early in the evening.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.

but in spite of that

From this reading And yet it seemed quite natural that Emilie should be sitting there, that Adeline should be sitting there with her four girls, Marietje, Adele, Gerdy and Klaasje, and her two big boys, Alex and Guy; it seemed quite natural that, after the soup, the parlour-maid should set the great piece of beef in front of Guy for Guy to carve: one of the few things that he did well, as Van der Welcke told him, without thinking, for there was some truth in the jibe.