Chapter VI

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness)

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

plural of “antecedent” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

any person at all

From this reading They owed nothing to anybody.

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

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

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

arrange or order by classes or categories

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

fully understood or grasped

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

plural of “dependent” — a person who relies on another person for support (especially financial support)

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

plural of “estate” — everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

plural of “family” — a social unit living together

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

throw with force or recklessness

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

the trait of being willing to give your money or time

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

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

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

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

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

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

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

an inclination to favor progress and individual freedom

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

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

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

a philosopher who specializes in morals and moral problems

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

not any; not one

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

no person; not anyone

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading They owed nothing to anybody.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

by chance

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

among the people

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

plural of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

possessing material wealth

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

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

From this reading They had a great deal of money, which is popularly recognized to be power, and they owed it to nobody but themselves.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

a source of difficulty

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

precisely as stated

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

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

From this reading But this was pure liberality, generosity as his friends called it.

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

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

at the time that

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

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

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.

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

From this reading They had no estates to keep up; no poor people depended upon them; the clerks and porters at the office were not to call dependents, though probably--out of good nature, when they were ill or trouble arose in their families, if it happened to come under the notice of the head of the firm, he would fling them a little money, perhaps with an admonition, perhaps with a joke.

but in spite of that

From this reading The Diroms belonged to a class now very common in England, the class of very rich people without any antecedents or responsibilities, which it is so difficult to classify or lay hold of, and which neither the authorities of society nor the moralist have yet fully comprehended.