Chapter XXVII

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

highly skilled

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

later than; following

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

(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 All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

only a very short time before

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The finishing touches were but a matter of detail.

a game played with playing cards

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Two days' more quiet work, and his task was done.

with intention; in an intentional manner

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole

From this reading The finishing touches were but a matter of detail.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Two days' more quiet work, and his task was done.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)

From this reading The finishing touches were but a matter of detail.

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

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

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

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

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

provided with artificial light

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The finishing touches were but a matter of detail.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Two days' more quiet work, and his task was done.

a form of address for a man

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

something offered (as a proposal or bid)

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

bound by or as if by an oath

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading Two days' more quiet work, and his task was done.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.

a unit of acoustic absorption equivalent to the absorption by a square foot of a surface that absorbs all incident sound

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

refrain from harming

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

with success; in a successful manner

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading Two days' more quiet work, and his task was done.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body

From this reading The finishing touches were but a matter of detail.

create by training and teaching

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

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

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

precisely as stated

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

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

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

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

From this reading The finishing touches were but a matter of detail.

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

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

which person or people

From this reading He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction which falls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfully accomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.

belonging to which person

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway station with barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-class smoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.

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

From this reading Two days' more quiet work, and his task was done.

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

From this reading All that he had pledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering.