Chapter II · The Undergraduate Then and Now

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

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

in the past

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

completely happy and contented

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

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

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

marked by blithe unconcern

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

plural of “century” — a period of 100 years

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

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

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

third-person singular of “conjure” — summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

become weaker

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

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

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

divisible by two

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

at any time

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

make full, also in a metaphorical sense

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

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

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

a first-year undergraduate

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

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

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

ten 10s

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

the lack of knowledge or education

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

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

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

aroused to impatience or anger

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

plural of “knock” — the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

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

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

engage in

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

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

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

the state of being a man; manly qualities

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

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

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

a particular point in time

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

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

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

by chance

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle; approximately equal to 3.14159265358979323846...

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

plural of “predecessor” — one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

plural of “quad” — one of four children born at the same time from the same pregnancy

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

an instance of questioning

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

a polite refusal of an invitation

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

a result

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

move upward

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

Identical; not different.

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

plural of “school” — an educational institution

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

not tense or taut

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

with low volume

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

of timber; having fibers that run in parallel

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

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

From this reading Blissful ignorance--The real education--Empty schools--Manhood--Lonely freshers--The “pi” man--The newcomer’s metamorphosis--The Lownger’s day--Regrets at being down.

in or at that place or location

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

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

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

put down or press the foot, place the foot

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

plural of “undergraduate” — a university student who has not yet received a first degree

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

at the time that

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

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

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

which person or people

From this reading How few of us there are to-day who ever devote even the slack hour between tea and “hotters” and Hall to finding out something at least about the Undergraduates who had our rooms two centuries ago.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading Great names rise up into our minds and fill us with wonder, but the scout knocks at our door with half-cold food and our dreams dissolve into irritated reality.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.

a late time of life

From this reading There may come a moment, perhaps, when, with feet at rest upon the mantel-shelf and a straight-grained pipe bubbling in quiet response between our teeth, we are deafening our ears to the call of bed, the slow-flowing conversation drifts by chance to a casual query as to what our predecessors did at the same hour two hundred years ago.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet to every man the word Oxford conjures up vast vague shadows from the past which make him as a freshman tread softly and with reverence through the quads and gardens, High Streets and by-streets of the City of Spires.