Chapter VIII

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

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

(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 “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

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

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

eagerly desirous

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae used for food

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

in a busy manner

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

plural of “ceiling” — the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

state emphatically and authoritatively

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

true confidential information

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

a checkerboard game for two players who each have 12 pieces; the object is to jump over and so capture the opponent's pieces

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

at any time

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

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

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

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

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

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

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

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

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

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

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

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

From this reading How wide these passages were!

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

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

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

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

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

and nothing more

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

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 She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

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

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

leave undone or leave out

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

a panel or section of panels in a wall or door

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

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

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She compared it with the farm-house she had just left, so much less handsome, so much more comfortable.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

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

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading How wide these passages were!

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

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

precisely as stated

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

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

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

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

From this reading Ever since the Captain told me, in his short way, that you were coming, I’ve been that anxious to see you, you might have been my own sister.”

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

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

which person or people

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading “That was very good of you,” said Freda, who was busily taking in all the details of the house, the wide, shallow stairs, low ceilings, and oaken panelling; the air of neglect which hung about it all; the draughts which made her shiver in the corridors and passages.

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Oh,” began Mrs. Bean, with a fat and comfortable sigh, “I am glad to have you here, I declare.