Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

(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 To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

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

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Major Guthrie looked at Mrs. Otway meditatively.

the force by which one object attracts another

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

plural of “committee” — a special group delegated to consider some matter

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

the official residence of a dean

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

in a delightful manner

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

to an exceptional degree

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

associated with women and not with men

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

United States folk singer and songwriter (1912-1967)

From this reading Major Guthrie looked at Mrs. Otway meditatively.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

cause to move by striking

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

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

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

lacking worth or importance

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Major Guthrie looked at Mrs. Otway meditatively.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading Major Guthrie looked at Mrs. Otway meditatively.

in a meditative manner

From this reading Major Guthrie looked at Mrs. Otway meditatively.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

used to form the superlative

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Major Guthrie looked at Mrs. Otway meditatively.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading Major Guthrie looked at Mrs. Otway meditatively.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

on the contrary

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

past form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

in secrecy; not openly

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Major Guthrie had always been sorry that Mrs. Otway and his mother didn't exactly hit it off.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

in or at that place or location

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

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

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

precisely as stated

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

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

From this reading She was able to do so much more than most of the ladies he had known.

(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 To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

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

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

which person or people

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

in the company of; together with

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Apart from his instinctive attraction for her--an attraction which had sprung into being the very first time they had met, at a dinner party at the Deanery--he had always regarded her as an exceptionally clever woman.

an affirmative

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.

but in spite of that

From this reading To his simple soldier mind there was something interesting and, well, yes, rather extraordinary, in a woman who sat on committees, who could hold her own so well in argument, and who yet remained very feminine, sometimes--so he secretly thought--quite delightfully absurd and inconsequent, with it all.