Chapter XVIII

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

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

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

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

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

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

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

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

with attention; in an attentive manner

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

for the reason that

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

used of hair; thick and poorly groomed

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

a social or business visitor

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

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

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

marked by blithe unconcern

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

past form of “clean” — make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

rid of obstructions

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

expressing much in few words

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

to a great extent or degree

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

relating to or concerned with electricity

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

act as a servant for older boys, in British public schools

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

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

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

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

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

having or involving the use of hands

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

come to pass

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

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

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

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

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

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

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

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

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

and nothing more

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

similar in quality or character

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

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

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

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

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

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

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

somewhat elderly

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

on one occasion

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

above and across; more than

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

on the contrary

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

controlled or governed according to rule or principle or law

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

make a shift in or exchange of

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

the basic unit of money in Uganda; equal to 100 cents

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

telephone central where circuits are completed with patchcords

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

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

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

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

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

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

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

unsusceptible to or destitute of or showing no emotion

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

precisely as stated

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

plural of “volt” — a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

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

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

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

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

at the time that

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

which person or people

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was an oldish man with whiskers and heavy, bushy eyebrows, just turning grey; his questions were few and to the point, and Carstairs seemed to feel he had met a kindred spirit at once.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading Then, quite by accident, as these things always happen, he met a man, a casual caller, who wished to see round the works; the shift engineer told Carstairs off to show him round, because it was "too much fag" to do it himself.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading For those three months the world seemed a very dull place to him.

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

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading He listened attentively to Carstairs' clear and concise explanations, and when it was over he did not offer him a shilling as sometimes happened, but in the casual, unemotional, north-country way, he handed him his card and asked if he would like to see round his works "over yonder."

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading For three months Carstairs worked steadily at the beginning of things electrical; he cleaned the switchboard and regulated the volts; he took orders from a youth, rather younger and considerably less experienced than himself.