Chapter XXVII

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Sort of a fresh air charity on your part.”

(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 “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

a youthful male person

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)

From this reading Sort of a fresh air charity on your part.”

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading And then to let him come up first!

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading And then to let him come up first!

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading Sort of a fresh air charity on your part.”

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading WE INVITE MORE GUESTS.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading And then to let him come up first!

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

increase the likelihood of

From this reading WE INVITE MORE GUESTS.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading And then to let him come up first!

property that is leased or rented out or let

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading WE INVITE MORE GUESTS.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Sort of a fresh air charity on your part.”

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

plural of “rein” — one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

an area that includes places where several people can sit

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Sort of a fresh air charity on your part.”

express a supposition

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That was certainly rubbing it in, but the poor boy doesn’t have a chance to get out much.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And then to let him come up first!

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

male cat

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

not admitting of pardon

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading And then to let him come up first!

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading WE INVITE MORE GUESTS.

(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 “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

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

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

at the time that

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “WELL, Philip, my boy,” said Tom, slapping me on the knee when we were all in our seats, and I had relieved “Crœsus” of the reins, “I suppose it was an unpardonable piece of assurance for me to invite a man you had never seen without letting you know he was coming.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Sort of a fresh air charity on your part.”