Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

concurrence of opinion

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

in addition

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

not functioning properly

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

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

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

a loving feeling

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

bring order and organization to

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

cause to be slowed down or delayed

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

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

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

a formal or authoritative proclamation

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

invested with legal power or official authority especially as symbolized by having a scepter

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

a worker who holds or is invested with an office

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

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

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

the literary culture

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

Canadian explorer (born in England) who explored the Mackenzie River and who was first to cross North America by land north of Mexico (1764-1820)

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

not any; not one

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

-ing form of “ordain” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

usable for a specific purpose

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

command against

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

on the contrary

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

get something; come into possession of

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

plural of “sect” — a subdivision of a larger religious group

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

conscientious attention to rules and details

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

express in words

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading In consequence, she received on the Monday mornings those letters which were due to her on Sundays, and on this special Monday morning she received a letter, as to which the delay was of much consequence.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

male cat

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

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

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.

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

From this reading Tom Mackenzie's Bed-Side There was a Stumfoldian edict, ultra-Median-and-Persian in its strictness, ordaining that no Stumfoldian in Littlebath should be allowed to receive a letter on Sundays.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Miss Mackenzie had given way to this easily, seeing nothing amiss in the edict, and not caring much for her Sunday letters.

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

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And there also existed a coordinate rule on the part of the Postmaster-General,--or, rather, a privilege granted by that functionary,--in accordance with which Stumfoldians, and other such sects of Sabbatarians, were empowered to prohibit the letter-carriers from contaminating their special knockers on Sunday mornings.

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

From this reading It was to tell her that her brother Tom was dying, and to pray that she would be up in London as early on the Monday as was practicable.