Chapter XXI

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

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

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

From this reading Lady Alice in Bed.

(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 "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

Having no one else present.

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

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

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

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

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Lady Alice in Bed.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

with self-possession (especially in times of stress)

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

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

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

past form of “communicate” — transmit information

From this reading This permission was communicated sulkily, in French.

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading This permission was communicated sulkily, in French.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

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

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

making a strong or vivid impression

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

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

From this reading Lady Alice in Bed.

be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

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

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

a female relative

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Lady Alice in Bed.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

a female domestic

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

not any; not one

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

approval to do something

From this reading This permission was communicated sulkily, in French.

To recall to mind.

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

in the near future

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

express in speech

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

in a sulky manner

From this reading This permission was communicated sulkily, in French.

in a sullen manner

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

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

From this reading This permission was communicated sulkily, in French.

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

From this reading "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

precisely as stated

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

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

From this reading This permission was communicated sulkily, in French.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

(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, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes."

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

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--"