used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
(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 The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
Baffall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
behavedverbUS /bɪˈheɪvd/
past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
a youthful male person
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
carefully-arranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
complacentlyadverbUS /kəmˈpleɪsəntli/
in a self-satisfied manner
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
being joined in close association
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
deceivedverbUS /dɪˈsiːvd/
past form of “deceive” — be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
divisible by two
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
intimatelyadverbUS /ˈɪntəmətli/
in a close manner
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
jadenounUS /dʒeɪd/
a semiprecious gemstone that takes a high polish; is usually green but sometimes whitish; consists of jadeite or nephrite
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
modestadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəst/
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
on one occasion
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
patronnounUS /ˈpeɪtrən/
a regular customer
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
on the contrary
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
RememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
shamefullyadverb
in a dishonorable manner or to a dishonorable degree
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
shortagenounUS /ˈʃɔːrtədʒ/
the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
in the near future
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
strugglesnounUS /ˈstrʌɡəlz/
plural of “struggle” — an energetic attempt to achieve something
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
a quantity of money
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
express in words
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
accept gladly
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It must be said at once that Mr. Baffall had behaved rather well.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He soon discovered, however, what manner of jade she was, and how shamefully she had deceived him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Remembering complacently his own first struggles in the great city--struggles intimately connected even now in his mind with a shortage of food and of clothing--he decided that the boy was starting with good prospects--far better, indeed, than those his patron had enjoyed.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
wooingnounUS /ˈwuːɪŋ/
a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The boy was put into a good business, and a sufficient sum was to be paid for his lodging in a modest way; Jimmy had but to work within those carefully-arranged lines that had been drawn for him, and all would be well.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading JIMMY--AND A MATTER OF FOOD London, as we already know, had held out hands of welcome to the innocent Jimmy, and had promised great things to him; moreover, changing her name to Fortune, she had seemed to tell him that in a little time she would be his for the mere wooing.
