Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading VISIT OF COUSIN ABIJAH.

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

a feeling of delight at being entertained

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

make known; make an announcement

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading VISIT OF COUSIN ABIJAH.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

to or in any or all places

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

a young female

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

engage in

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.

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

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

not any; not one

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

plural of “obstacle” — something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading VISIT OF COUSIN ABIJAH.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

established beyond doubt

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.

A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

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

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

cut a female screw thread with a tap

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.

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

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

to a remarkable degree or extent

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

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

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading VISIT OF COUSIN ABIJAH.

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

(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 "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

at the time that

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

which person or people

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

in the company of; together with

From this reading One afternoon when Marion's lessons had proved unusually difficult, her room-mates noisy, and obstacles everywhere, it seemed to the diligent scholar, she answered a tap on her door, to find Etta Lawrence, the girl who waited in the hall to announce visitors, with a face full of amusement.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading I had hard work to make him go into the parlor, and I left him sitting on the edge of a chair, staring around as if he never had seen such a room before."

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "He started to follow me up-stairs; and when I showed him into the parlor, and told him I would call you, he said,-- "''Tain't no odds, I can jist as well go up; I ain't afraid of stairs, no way.'

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "There's a man down-stairs asking for you, Marion," she said.