Chapter II

higher than, or over, something

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

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

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

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

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

plural of “century” — a period of 100 years

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

rid of obstructions

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

being joined in close association

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

plural of “down” — soft fine feathers

From this reading The history of the house had been very monotonous, without ups or downs to speak of.

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

a social unit living together

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

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

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

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

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading The history of the house had been very monotonous, without ups or downs to speak of.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

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

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

conformity or harmony

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

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

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

to certain extent or degree

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

From this reading The history of the house had been very monotonous, without ups or downs to speak of.

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

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

many times at short intervals

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

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

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

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

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

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

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

raise the level or amount of something

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

past form of “reckon” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

possessing material wealth

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

express in speech

From this reading The history of the house had been very monotonous, without ups or downs to speak of.

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

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

in a sturdy manner

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

beneath the surface of the water

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

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

From this reading The house of Hay-Heriot had been established at Pitcomlie for more centuries than could easily be reckoned.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

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

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

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

From this reading There had never been any great personages in the family to raise it above its natural level, but neither had there been any distinguished profligates or spendthrifts to pull it down.

third-person singular of “up” — raise

From this reading The history of the house had been very monotonous, without ups or downs to speak of.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

plural of “vice” — moral weakness

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

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

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

(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 was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

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

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

which person or people

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

morally bad in principle or practice

From this reading Most of the lairds had been respectable, and those who were not had never been more than moderately wicked, keeping clear of ruinous vices.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading It was neither very rich nor very great, but it was well connected, and had held itself sturdily above the waves of fate like one of the rocks along its wild coast line, often threatened by rising tides, but never submerged.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The history of the house had been very monotonous, without ups or downs to speak of.