used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
in addition
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
AnthonynounUS /ˈænθəni/
Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)
From this reading And that someone else was a certain Anthony Ditchburn.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
from appearances alone
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
babiesnounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
plural of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading And that someone else was a certain Anthony Ditchburn.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
dartingverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
Ditchburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that someone else was a certain Anthony Ditchburn.
electsnounUS /ˌɪˈlekts/
plural of “elect” — an exclusive group of people
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
fixturenounUS /ˈfɪkstʃər/
an object firmly fixed in place (especially in a household)
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
come to pass
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
humdrumadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmdrʌm/
not challenging; dull and lacking excitement
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
Nannock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
PAUL'SnounUS /pɔːlz/
possessive form of “paul” — United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
perforceadverbUS /pərˈfɔːrs/
by necessity; by force of circumstance
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
in a serious manner
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
carry out
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
the-wisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/
leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
precisely as stated
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had become a fixture there in a curious way--in as curious a way as any of those which had brought the other inhabitants of the house into the care of Paul Nannock.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have already met him in a matter of tobacco; and we have seen that he was apparently something of a fixture in that queer house.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Therefore it was in the very nature of things that the unexpected, which had given to Old Paul three babies that never should have belonged to him, should give him someone else also.
will-o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading AND OLD PAUL'S FRIENDS If any man in this commonplace, humdrum world of ours elects to live on other than humdrum and commonplace lines, the unexpected must perforce happen to him; for the unexpected is a very will-o'-the-wisp, darting hither and thither, and finding but few people ready to take it seriously.
