Chapter IX · Trouble

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

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading Pasco had himself admitted to her, on the drive from Brimpts, that he was in difficulties.

plural of “altercation” — noisy quarrel

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

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

From this reading Pasco had himself admitted to her, on the drive from Brimpts, that he was in difficulties.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

plural of “capacity” — capability to perform or produce

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

plural of “cellar” — the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

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

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading Pasco had himself admitted to her, on the drive from Brimpts, that he was in difficulties.

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

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading Pasco had himself admitted to her, on the drive from Brimpts, that he was in difficulties.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Pasco had himself admitted to her, on the drive from Brimpts, that he was in difficulties.

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

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

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

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

possessive form of “jackson” — English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

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

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

staying power

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

cut with a saw

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

plural of “sol” — a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

lacking natural ease

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

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

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

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

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

a source of difficulty

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care; a casual lack of concern

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

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

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

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

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.

at the time that

From this reading When Kate returned to Coombe Cellars, she saw that some trouble had occurred.

the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading His hat was on and he was whistling a tune—a strain out of Jackson’s “Tee-dum”—in unconcern.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Her aunt was sitting at the table in tears, Pasco had planted himself on the settle, with his legs stretched before him, wide apart, the soles turned up and his hands in his pockets.

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

From this reading Kate had heard enough of the altercations between her aunt and uncle to be aware that their circumstances were strained, and that Zerah disbelieved in her husband’s business capacities.