Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

anew

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

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

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

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

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

eagerly desirous

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

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

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

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

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

the act of discovering something

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

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

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

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

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

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

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

-ing form of “hire” — engage or hire for work

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

cause to move by striking

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

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

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.

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

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

possessive form of “martin” — French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

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

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

a form of address for a man

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

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

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.

and nothing more

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

established beyond doubt

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

relieve from

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

giving satisfaction

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

get by special effort

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

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

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

carry out

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

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

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

a special situation

From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.

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

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

the cognitive condition of someone who understands

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

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

From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

nonexistent

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?

at the time that

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.

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

From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.

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

From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.

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

From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.