Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

the state of being absent

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

in addition

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

next to; at the side of

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

-ing form of “bother” — take the trouble to do something; concern oneself

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

the person or thing chosen or selected

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

a body serving in an administrative capacity

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

a bottle with a stopper; for serving wine or water

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

divisible by two

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

nervous and unable to relax

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

having or deserving or conferring glory

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

possessive form of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

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

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

be suspended or hanging

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

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

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

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

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

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

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

a humming noise

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

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

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

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

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

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

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

a form of address for a man

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

on one occasion

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

having a point

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

British colonial administrator who founded Singapore (1781-1826)

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

on the contrary

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

show approval or appreciation of

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

plural of “rendering” — a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

past form of “replenish” — fill something that had previously been emptied

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

cut with a saw

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

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

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

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

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

be seated

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

to grasp hastily or eagerly

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

successive (without a break)

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

a tube running from the liquid in a vessel to a lower level outside the vessel so that gravity forces the liquid through the tube

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

carry out

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

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

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

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

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

English poet and theologian (1674-1748)

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading The folding-doors were shut, and the grandfather's clock on one side of them made it almost midnight.

at the time that

From this reading Council of War Raffles was humming a snatch of something too choice for me to recognise when I drew in my head from the glorious night.

in or at the place that

From this reading But it seemed that they must hang where he had hung them, and for once I saw them hanging straight.

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

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.

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

From this reading Raffles would not stop his tune for me, but he pointed to the syphon and decanter, and I replenished my glass.

marked by active interest and enthusiasm

From this reading He had a glass beside him also, which was less usual, but he did not sit down beside his glass; he was far too fidgety for that; even bothering about a pair of pictures which had changed places under some zealous hand in his absence, or rather two of Mr. Hollyer's fine renderings of Watts and Burne-Jones of which I had never seen Raffles take the slightest notice before.