Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

(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 AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

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

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

lacking in variety and interest

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

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

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

putting something (as a literary work or a legislative bill) into acceptable form

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

past form of “encounter” — come together

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

to certain extent or degree

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

with resolute determination

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

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

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

only a very short time before

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

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

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

a traditional Irish game resembling hockey; played by two teams of 15 players each

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

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

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

of a pale purple color

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

plain-woven cotton fabric

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

not any; not one

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

past form of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

on one occasion

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

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

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

possessing sweep

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

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

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He had read it through no less than three times.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

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

From this reading For he could so plainly recognize his own influence, and the incongruity of it against the gentle, colourless background of the tale was in truth amusing.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree

From this reading A more ludicrous effect could hardly have been obtained, if Miss Bibby herself, clad in the limp lavender muslin, had been encountered lashing about with a stockwhip or hurling blue metal wildly in all directions.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading AN EDITING PENCIL And now he swept all his own work out of the way and, sitting firmly down once more upon his chair from the kitchen, spread out upon his time-be desk, Miss Bibby's MS.

in a vehement outcry

From this reading At the first reading he had laughed, indeed he had leaned back in his chair and fairly yelled with laughing.