Chapter VIII

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

(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 He took all the elastic that he could find in his mother’s work drawer.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

equipment designed to serve a specific function

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

past form of “borrow” — get temporarily

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

an occurrence of something

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

persuaded of; very sure

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He took all the elastic that he could find in his mother’s work drawer.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading He spent two days on the work.

freed from illusion

From this reading WILLIAM THE MATCH-MAKER William was feeling disillusioned.

a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out

From this reading He took all the elastic that he could find in his mother’s work drawer.

capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy

From this reading He took all the elastic that he could find in his mother’s work drawer.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

qualified for by right according to law

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading WILLIAM THE MATCH-MAKER William was feeling disillusioned.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading He took all the elastic that he could find in his mother’s work drawer.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

machines or machine systems collectively

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

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

From this reading WILLIAM THE MATCH-MAKER William was feeling disillusioned.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading He took all the elastic that he could find in his mother’s work drawer.

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He spent two days on the work.

any material used especially to protect something

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

relating to photography or obtained by using photography

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading He spent two days on the work.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

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

From this reading WILLIAM THE MATCH-MAKER William was feeling disillusioned.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading He took all the elastic that he could find in his mother’s work drawer.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He spent two days on the work.

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

From this reading WILLIAM THE MATCH-MAKER William was feeling disillusioned.

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

From this reading He had received, as a birthday present, a book entitled “Engineering Explained to Boys,” and had read it in bed at midnight by the light of a lamp which he had “borrowed” from his elder brother’s photographic apparatus for the purpose.

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

From this reading WILLIAM THE MATCH-MAKER William was feeling disillusioned.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.

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

From this reading He spent two days on the work.

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

From this reading The book had convinced William that it would be perfectly simple with the aid of a little machinery, to turn a wooden packing case into a motor boat.