Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

(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 There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

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

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading CHRISTMAS AT NONINGSBY.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading CHRISTMAS AT NONINGSBY.

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

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

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

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

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

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

a female human offspring

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

possessive form of “judge” — a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

in the recent past

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

joined in matrimony

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

not any; not one

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

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

From this reading CHRISTMAS AT NONINGSBY.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

above and across; more than

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

cut with a saw

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was a new house from the cellar to the ceiling, and as a house was no doubt the better for being so.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading There could be no more comfortable country-house than Noningsby; and it was, in its own way, pretty, though essentially different in all respects from The Cleeve.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

at the time that

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

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

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mrs. Arbuthnot, the judge's married daughter, was there, with her three children; and Mr. Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.

but in spite of that

From this reading The house at Noningsby on Christmas-day was quite full, and yet it was by no means a small house.