Chapter XXXVI · Sir Piers

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

anew

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

(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 He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

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

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

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

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

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From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

see with attention

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

befitting or characteristic of a young boy

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

the act of breaking something

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

someone who is a detective

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

divisible by two

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

opinion or judgment

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

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

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

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

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

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

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

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

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

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

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

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

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

not any; not one

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

and nothing more

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

above and across; more than

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

plural of “pier” — a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

filled with bewilderment

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

Identical; not different.

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

term of address for a man

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

abounding with or resembling stars

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

carry out

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

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

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

a special situation

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading As no one was inclined to take him, he thought he would go by himself.

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

lacking kindness

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

(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 It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

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

From this reading That would not be exactly breaking his secret, for surely if he were well he might go home to his mother and to Dick and to Barbara.

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He did not wish to be unkind to his nurse or unkind to grannie, but, all the same, it seemed to him only fair that he should at least see the old place again, and behold his mother, if even at a distance, and see Barbara, the lady with the starry brown eyes, and Dick, the hero of his boyish dreams.

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

From this reading It occurred to little Sir Piers that it would be a good thing if now, that he was quite well, he went home.

a late time of life

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.

but in spite of that

From this reading He thought the matter over in the puzzled and yet wise way of seven years old.