Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

changed in form or character without becoming something else

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

(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 "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

a courteous or respectful or considerate act

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

guilty of a misdeed

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading I see--a brain fever," observed Sir Hercules.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

(classical mythology) a hero noted for his strength; performed 12 immense labors to gain immortality

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

incapable of physical sensation

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

discontinued temporarily

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

a polite name for any woman

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

a warship intended for combat

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

a crime less serious than a felony

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading I see--a brain fever," observed Sir Hercules.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading You recollect his tail, my lady?"

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I see--a brain fever," observed Sir Hercules.

term of address for a man

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

not in physical motion

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

a feeling of stupefied astonishment

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

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

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

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

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

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

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

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

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

precisely as stated

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

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

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

(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 "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

at the time that

From this reading "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a courtesy), "I thought it was better--" "Ah!

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Well, under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a pity, was it not, my lady?--quite altered the man.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir Hercules--" "I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, with a courtesy.