Chapter XXXVIII

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

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

tending to become more severe or wider in scope

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

changed in form or character without becoming something else

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

an expectation

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

the act of discovering something

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

marked by imagination, initiative, and readiness to undertake new projects

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading "Well," said I, "what is this great discovery?"

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

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

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

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

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

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

a single distinct event

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading "Well," said I, "what is this great discovery?"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

full of life and energy

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading NEIGHBORS.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

inflected form of “plod” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

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

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

express in words

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

a special situation

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading "Well," said I, "what is this great discovery?"

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

a fact that has been verified

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading What had she done, or altered, or made up, or arranged, as she always met me full of her subject?

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well," said I, "what is this great discovery?"

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

at the time that

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

which person or people

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

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

From this reading Now, the truth was, that my wife was one of those lively, busy, active, enterprising little women, who are always making incident for themselves and their friends; and it was a regular part of my anticipation, as I plodded home from my office, tired and work-worn, to conjecture what new thing Eva would find to tell me that night.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Do you know, Harry," said my wife to me, one evening when I came home to dinner, "I have made a discovery?"