Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

a church associated with a monastery or convent

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

acted upon; influenced

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

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

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

cause to be bored

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

the yield from plants in a single growing season

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

social or verbal interchange (usually followed by “with”)

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

capital and largest city and major port of the Irish Republic

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

divisible by two

From this reading Few even of the wealthiest lived within their incomes.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

the quality of exceeding the appropriate limits of decorum or probability or truth

From this reading It was a period of unbounded extravagance.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading Few even of the wealthiest lived within their incomes.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

depressingly dark

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

the yield from plants in a single growing season

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

capable of being imagined

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

of great significance or value

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

plural of “income” — the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time

From this reading Few even of the wealthiest lived within their incomes.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Few even of the wealthiest lived within their incomes.

kept in good condition

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

possessive form of “mary” — the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

a form of address for a man

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

not any; not one

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

an amount of time

From this reading It was a period of unbounded extravagance.

among the people

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

a false or unsupportable quality

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

one of four equal parts

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

do one's shopping

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

express in speech

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

not in physical motion

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Few even of the wealthiest lived within their incomes.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

seemingly boundless in amount, number, degree, or especially extent

From this reading It was a period of unbounded extravagance.

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

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

superlative of “wealthy” — having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

From this reading Few even of the wealthiest lived within their incomes.

(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 had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

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

From this reading He had been, and indeed so had his father before him, a fruit-seller, in a quarter of the city called Mary's Abbey,--a trade which he still affected to carry on, although it was well known that the little transactions of the front shop bore no imaginable proportion to the important events which were conducted in the small and gloomy back-parlor behind it.

which person or people

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

belonging to which person

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The celebrated money-lender and bill-discounter of Dublin in the times we speak of, was a certain Mr. Fagan, popularly called “The Grinder,” from certain peculiarities in his dealings with those who stood in need of his aid.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Few even of the wealthiest lived within their incomes.

-ing form of “witness” — be a witness to

From this reading Many maintained a style and pretension far beyond their fortunes, the first seeds of that crop of ruin whose harvest we are now witnessing.