Chapter II

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

be able to spare or give up

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

in the past

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

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

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

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

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

capability to perform or produce

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

showing careful forethought

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

a young person of either sex

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

carefully weighed

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

the specified day of the month

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

a female human offspring

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

set up or found

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

usually; as a rule

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

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

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

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

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

a search for knowledge

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

past form of “institute” — set up or lay the groundwork for

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

the literary culture

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

joined in matrimony

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

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

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

plural of “misgiving” — uneasiness about the fitness of an action

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

a form of address for a man

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

an old word for “no”

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

a child's room for a baby

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

with honesty

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

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

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

openly distrustful and unwilling to confide

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

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

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

being six more than thirty

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

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

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

people engaged in trade

From this reading She herself was the daughter of very respectable tradespeople, and had served in the capacity of nursery governess before her marriage.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

precisely as stated

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

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

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

(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 “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

which person or people

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

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

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

a man whose wife is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading She had a brother, a widower, who was considered wealthy, and who had one child about six years old.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

in the company of; together with

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

produce a literary work

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading About ten days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. J----, telling me that he had visited the house since I had seen him; that he had found the two letters I had described replaced in the drawer from which I had taken them; that he had read them with misgivings like my own; that he had instituted a cautious inquiry about the woman to whom I rightly conjectured they had been written.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

a late time of life

From this reading It seemed that thirty-six years ago (a year before the date of the letters) she had married, against the wish of her relatives, an American of very suspicious character; in fact, he was generally believed to have been a pirate.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Nay, I am well able to afford the cost; for the rest, allow me to write to you.”