Chapter VIII

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

From this reading A STORMY MORNING.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Mr. Effingham was always an early riser.

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

From this reading Mr. Effingham was always an early riser.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

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

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

earlier in time; previously

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading Mr. Effingham was always an early riser.

moving toward the east

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading Mr. Effingham was always an early riser.

plural of “evil” — morally objectionable behavior

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

an item of information that is typical of a class or group

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

apart from; not including

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

granted exemption

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

a social unit living together

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

being or in accordance with current social fashions

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

destroyed or killed

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading A STORMY MORNING.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Effingham was always an early riser.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

and nothing more

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

the quality or habit of adhering to an appointed time

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

past form of “render” — cause to become

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

a person who rises (especially from bed)

From this reading Mr. Effingham was always an early riser.

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

From this reading Lady Selina’s example not only excused it, but rendered it in a certain degree fashionable in the family.

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

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion

From this reading A STORMY MORNING.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

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

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

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

From this reading Mr. Effingham was always an early riser.

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

From this reading Want of punctuality in her step-daughters was one of the evils which Clemence longed, though in vain, to reform.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading The next morning he was earlier than usual, and had not only commenced his breakfast, but concluded it, and gone off to his business eastward, before any of the ladies, except his wife, had made their appearance in the breakfast-room.