Chapter III

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

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

later than; following

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

anew

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

(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 There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

Having no one else present.

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

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

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

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

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

happiness felt in a secure relationship

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

a young person of either sex

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

the act of counting; reciting numbers in ascending order

From this reading And on my mother's side I had no relations worth counting.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

divisible by two

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

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

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

excessively quick

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

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

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

informal terms for a mother

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

joined in matrimony

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading And on my mother's side I had no relations worth counting.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And on my mother's side I had no relations worth counting.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

not any; not one

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

and nothing more

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

by chance

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

on the contrary

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading And on my mother's side I had no relations worth counting.

To recall to mind.

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

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

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading And on my mother's side I had no relations worth counting.

plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

not in physical motion

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

successive (without a break)

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

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

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

precisely as stated

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

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

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER No, perhaps I was rather hasty in saying I could now go straight on about what I remember myself.

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

From this reading There are still a few things belonging to the time before I can remember, which I had better explain now, to keep it all in order.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading I have spoken of grandmamma as being alone in the world, and so she was--as far as having no one _very_ near her--no other children, and not any brothers or sisters of her own.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading And on my mother's side I had no relations worth counting.

a late time of life

From this reading Mamma was an only child, and her father had married again after _her_ mother died, and then, some years after, he died himself, and mamma's half-brothers and sisters had never even seen her, as they were out in India.