Chapter XI · The House of Cards Begins to Fall

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

later than; following

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

the act of closing something

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

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

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

-ing form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

start firing a weapon

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

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

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

and nothing more

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

on one occasion

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

above and across; more than

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

(of weather) wet by periods of rain

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

a gradual sinking to a lower level

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

term of address for a man

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

a male human offspring

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

not to be accounted for or explained

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

with vigor; in a vigorous manner

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

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

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Settled what?”

at the time that

From this reading Everard had been in his father’s office five weeks or more, when, on a rainy morning early in November, just as he was settling himself to his books, and congratulating himself upon the luxury of a quiet day, his father came in, and after looking over the paper, and poking the fire vigorously, seated himself opposite his son, and began:

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes, sir,” Everard replied, closing the book and facing his father with an unaccountable dread that something unpleasant was coming.

but in spite of that

From this reading “It’s never my way to beat round the bush,” the judge began; “I come to the point at once, and so I want to know if you and Bee have settled it yet?”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Everard, put down your book; I want to talk with you.”