Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

later than; following

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

any person at all

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

make certain of

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

an occurrence of something

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

a special group delegated to consider some matter

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.)

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

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

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

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

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

the act of departing

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

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

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

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

From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

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

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

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

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

discontinued temporarily

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

immediately past

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

absolutely essential

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

with speed

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

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

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

term of address for a man

From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.

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

From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.

the season of growth

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

a short high-pitched noise

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

young nobleman attendant on a knight

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.

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

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

a source of difficulty

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

precisely as stated

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

to a vital degree

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

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

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.

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

From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'

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

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

(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 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

in or at the place that

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

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

From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.