Chapter XVIII

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

(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 “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

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

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It would have been something!” she continued.

exhale hard

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

placed in a grave

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

the largest city in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty and overcrowding

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

without stop or interruption

From this reading “It would have been something!” she continued.

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

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

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

From this reading Mrs. Daye spoke feelingly, gently tapping her egg.

dearly loved

From this reading “Poor dear thing!

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

From this reading Mrs. Daye spoke feelingly, gently tapping her egg.

with great feeling

From this reading Mrs. Daye spoke feelingly, gently tapping her egg.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

in a gradual manner

From this reading Mrs. Daye spoke feelingly, gently tapping her egg.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

cause to arise

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

and nothing more

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Daye spoke feelingly, gently tapping her egg.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

capable of happening or existing

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

Identical; not different.

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “It would have been something!” she continued.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading Mrs. Daye spoke feelingly, gently tapping her egg.

express a supposition

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

the sound of light blow or knock

From this reading Mrs. Daye spoke feelingly, gently tapping her egg.

with tenderness; in a tender manner

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

a special situation

From this reading “Poor dear thing!

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

the upper part of anything

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

precisely as stated

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

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

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

(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 “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

in or at the place that

From this reading “It was all very well for _him_, poor man, to want to be buried in that hole-and-corner kind of way—where he fell, I suppose, doing his duty: very simple and proper, I’m sure; and I should have felt just the same about it in his place—but on _her_ account he ought to have made it possible for them to have taken him back to Calcutta and given him a public funeral.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mrs. Daye never could induce herself to cut off the top of an egg with one fell blow; she always tapped it, tenderly, first.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “It would have been something!” she continued.