Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

without advance planning

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading HOW RUFUS SUCCEEDED IN BUSINESS.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

a person or firm that employs workers

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

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

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

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

From this reading HOW RUFUS SUCCEEDED IN BUSINESS.

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

From this reading HOW RUFUS SUCCEEDED IN BUSINESS.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

engage in

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

a form of address for a man

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

not any; not one

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

in other respects or ways

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

determined

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

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

From this reading HOW RUFUS SUCCEEDED IN BUSINESS.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

giving satisfaction

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

-ing form of “select” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

the act of choosing or selecting

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

refrain from harming

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading HOW RUFUS SUCCEEDED IN BUSINESS.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

United States slave and insurrectionist who in 1831 led a rebellion of slaves in Virginia; he was captured and executed (1800-1831)

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

possessive form of “turner” — United States slave and insurrectionist who in 1831 led a rebellion of slaves in Virginia; he was captured and executed (1800-1831)

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

being of use or service

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

precisely as stated

From this reading Very little has been said of Rufus in his business relations.

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

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

(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 He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading But Rufus was resolved that, whatever might have been his original motive, he should never regret the selection he had made.

at the time that

From this reading When he entered Mr. Turner's office, he resolved to spare no pains to make himself useful, and his services satisfactory to his employer.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.

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

From this reading He knew very well that he owed his situation entirely to the service which he had accidentally been able to do Mr. Turner, and that, otherwise, the latter would never have thought of selecting an office-boy from the class to which he belonged.