Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

possessing life

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

delicately beautiful

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

dearly loved

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

disappointingly unsuccessful

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

conveyance consisting of a wheeled support on which a camera can be mounted

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

having or involving the use of hands

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

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

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

characterized by jokes and good humor

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading "Read the letter, mistress," said Jeffreys.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading TO LONDON TOWN.

a female domestic

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading "Read the letter, mistress," said Jeffreys.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

on one occasion

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

plural of “promise” — a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

possessive form of “raleigh” — English courtier (a favorite of Elizabeth I) who tried to colonize Virginia; introduced potatoes and tobacco to England (1552-1618)

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading "Read the letter, mistress," said Jeffreys.

-ing form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Read the letter, mistress," said Jeffreys.

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

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

offering safety; well protected or concealed

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

the rays of the sun

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

believed likely

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

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

From this reading TO LONDON TOWN.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading TO LONDON TOWN.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading Her hopes were not disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in the sunlight.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.

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

From this reading The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snug within, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers.