Chapter IX · Learning to Ride

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

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

in actual fact

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

(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 And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

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

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

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

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

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

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

financial assistance in time of need

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

present

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

befitting or characteristic of a young boy

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

-ing form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

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

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

an excessively polite and well-dressed boy

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

a boy or man

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

by good fortune

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

a painful inflammation of the big toe and foot caused by defects in uric acid metabolism resulting in deposits of the acid and its salts in the blood and joints

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

the father of your father or mother

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

a male grandchild

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

having received what was desired

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

the quality of being ghastly

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

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

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

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

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

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

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

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

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

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

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

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

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

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

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

the lack of knowledge or education

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

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

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

a boy or man

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

the state of being alone in solitary isolation

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

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

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

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

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

not any; not one

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

the time at which something is supposed to begin

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

past form of “progress” — develop in a positive way

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

on the contrary

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

cut with a saw

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

being ten more than sixty

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

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

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

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

From this reading It had amused him to give into those childish hands the power to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

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

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

precisely as stated

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

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

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.

be dressed in

From this reading Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many a time as the days passed by.

of good upbringing

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

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

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading And then when he heard the lad talk, and saw what a well-bred little fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more, and actually began to find himself rather entertained.

at the time that

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading Indeed, as his acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.

a late time of life

From this reading There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared on the scene, the old man had been growing very tired of his loneliness and his gout and his seventy years, but when he saw the lad, fortunately for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather was gratified at the outset.