Chapter XXXV

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

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

existing in abundance

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

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

From this reading Abstemious sir, abste----" The Colonel choked and rolled his eyes fiercer than ever.

sparing in consumption of especially food and drink

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

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

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

with suspicion or disapproval

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

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

From this reading O begad, hark to that, Jack!

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

(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 HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

stopped up; clogged up

From this reading Abstemious sir, abste----" The Colonel choked and rolled his eyes fiercer than ever.

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading Abstemious sir, abste----" The Colonel choked and rolled his eyes fiercer than ever.

softened by the addition of cushions or padding

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

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

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

at any time

From this reading Abstemious sir, abste----" The Colonel choked and rolled his eyes fiercer than ever.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

opinion or judgment

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

comparative of “fierce” — marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading Abstemious sir, abste----" The Colonel choked and rolled his eyes fiercer than ever.

violate or abuse

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

listen; used mostly in the imperative

From this reading O begad, hark to that, Jack!

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

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

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

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

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

a small worthless amount

From this reading O begad, hark to that, Jack!

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

possessive form of “major” — a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines; below lieutenant colonel and above captain

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

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

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

not any; not one

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading O begad, hark to that, Jack!

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

owed as a debt

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

the time that has elapsed

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

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

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

euphemisms for “fat”

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

a member of a group of English Protestants who in the 16th and 17th centuries thought that the Protestant Reformation under Elizabeth was incomplete and advocated the simplification and regulation of forms of worship

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

morally rigorous and strict

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

support resembling the rib of an animal

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading Abstemious sir, abste----" The Colonel choked and rolled his eyes fiercer than ever.

uttered with a trill

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

express in words

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

term of address for a man

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Abstemious sir, abste----" The Colonel choked and rolled his eyes fiercer than ever.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading O begad, hark to that, Jack!

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

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

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

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

make brown and crisp by heating

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

a weave used to produce the effect of parallel diagonal ribs

From this reading A simple fracture, sir--'twill be sound in no time, it being a rib of health abounding, owing, if I may put it so, to an abstemious life, a past puritanic--a----" "Abstemious, sir!" exclaimed Lord Cleeve, rolling his eyes, "abstemious d'ya' say?

(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 HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading HOW THEY DRANK A NEW TOAST "The Major's rib will do, sir," nodded Dr. Ponderby, "'tis doing well and will do better and better.

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "My lord," said portly Dr. Ponderby, patting his smooth wig, "I am no Puritan myself, nor do I look askance at a glass or so of wine, far from it----" "The bottle is at your elbow, sir," said the Major from his cushioned chair.