Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

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

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

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

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

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

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

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

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

a youthful male person

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

a city in East Sussex in southern England that is a popular resort; site of the University of Sussex

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

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

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

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

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

close interaction

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

being one more than seven

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

first in order of birth

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

divisible by two

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

every person

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

a person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of the will

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

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

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

in a genteel manner

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

a young female

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

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

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

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

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

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

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

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

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

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

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

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

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

go away from a place

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

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

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

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

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

habitually complaining

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

in an unfortunate way

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

an impression that something might be the case

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

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

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

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

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

a person (or institution) to whom legal title to property is entrusted to use for another's benefit

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

hard to endure

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

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

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

precisely as stated

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

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

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

at the time that

From this reading The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.

which person or people

From this reading She had three children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading It was at that time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and had established his brother’s widow at Brighton.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the death of her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.

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

From this reading The work had not been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was trying to get the best of her.