Chapter XV · George Has ‘the Straight Tip.’

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

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

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

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

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

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

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

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading He didn’t believe that his father’s temper would last.

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

young of domestic cattle

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

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

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

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

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

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

From this reading He didn’t believe that his father’s temper would last.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

-ing form of “earn” — earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

at any time

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading He didn’t believe that his father’s temper would last.

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

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

inflected form of “forgive” — stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

set up or found

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

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

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

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

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

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

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

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

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

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

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

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

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

freedom from control or influence of another or others

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

immediately past

From this reading He didn’t believe that his father’s temper would last.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

a useful or valuable quality

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

a recklessly extravagant consumer

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

established beyond doubt

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

in a regular manner

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

to a remarkable degree or extent

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

something that remunerates

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading George had got on capitally in his situation.

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

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading He didn’t believe that his father’s temper would last.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

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

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

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

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

the act of using

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.

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

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

(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 Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He found the Work remarkably easy, the salary was paid regularly, and he was earning the sweet bread of independence—the first he had ever tasted in his life.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Eventually, of course, he would be forgiven, the prodigal would return by special invitation, plus a Mrs. Prodigal, the fatted calf would be killed, and George, having proved that he was of some use in the world, and could earn money as well as spend it, would settle down to a country life.

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

From this reading He didn’t believe that his father’s temper would last.

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

From this reading He had some vague idea that he wouldn’t always be a city clerk.