used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
matters of personal concern
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
beggarnounUS /ˈbeɡər/
a pauper who lives by begging
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
commercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/
connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
doctorsnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
at any time
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
exceptingverbUS /ˌekˈseptɪŋ/
-ing form of “except” — take exception to
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
the act of departing
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
guineanounUS /ˈɡɪni/
a former British gold coin worth 21 shillings
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
not any; not one
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
a human being
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
pipe-lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
premiumnounUS /ˈpriːmiəm/
payment for insurance
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
proppingverbUS /ˈprɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
ProtectornounUS /prəˈtektər/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
only a very short time before
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
sharesnounUS /ʃerz/
plural of “share” — assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading On the Stock Exchange, every person knew better than to touch them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading No talk now of shares going up to a premium.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading The Company was given over by commercial doctors, and no one felt inclined to waste a guinea on propping it up.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All this time the affairs of the Protector were falling into a more hopeless state of confusion than ever.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If a man had offered a handful of them to a beggar in the street, they would scarcely have been accepted, excepting for pipe-lights.
