Chapter I · A Man of His Day

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

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

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

From this reading ‘And in such a tone, too!’ protested his sister Dora.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘And in such a tone, too!’ protested his sister Dora.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

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

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘And in such a tone, too!’ protested his sister Dora.

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

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness:

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading ‘And in such a tone, too!’ protested his sister Dora.

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

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘There’s a man being hanged in London at this moment.’

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading ‘And in such a tone, too!’ protested his sister Dora.

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

From this reading ‘And in such a tone, too!’ protested his sister Dora.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ‘Surely it isn’t necessary to let us know that,’ said his sister Maud, coldly.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

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

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness: