used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
(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 I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
alliesnounUS /ˈælaɪz/
the alliance of nations that fought the Axis in World War II and which (with subsequent additions) signed the charter of the United Nations in 1945
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
move towards
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
bailiffnounUS /ˈbeɪləf/
an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs and processes and make arrests etc.
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
bailiff's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
next to; at the side of
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
bespokeadjectiveUS /bʊˈspoʊk/
(of clothing) custom-made
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
breedingnounUS /ˈbriːdɪŋ/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
Carey-street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
coachesnounUS /ˈkoʊtʃɪz/
plural of “coach” — (sports) someone in charge of training an athlete or a team
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
conceives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
confusesverbUS /kənˈfjuːzɪz/
third-person singular of “confuse” — mistake one thing for another
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
dejectionnoun
a state of melancholy depression
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/
fill with distaste
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
expectationsnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “expectation” — belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
followersnounUS /ˈfɑːloʊərz/
a group of followers or enthusiasts
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
gentilitynounUS /dʒenˈtɪlɪti/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
Hilary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
indignitynounUS /ˌɪnˈdɪɡnətiː/
an affront to one's dignity or self-esteem
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
conformity or harmony
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
Lincoln's-inn-fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
meanestadjectiveUS /ˈmiːnəst/
superlative of “mean” — approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
a form of address for a man
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
not any; not one
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
go across or through
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
an amount of time
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
be standing; be upright
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
in or at that place or location
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I had no great expectations of the gentility of the bailiff's abode: but, slender as they were, the few I had were disappointed.
a special situation
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I was thoroughly ashamed of my company: but a deep sense of indignity confuses thought; and, till it was proposed by the bailiff, I had forgotten that there was such a thing as a coach.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
up to a particular time
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
unusedadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːzd/
not yet used or soiled
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
(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 I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
in or at the place that
From this reading His proposal was immediately accepted; and we were driven through Lincoln's-inn-fields into Carey-street, where we were obliged to alight and pass through several narrow allies.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading _The good breeding of a bailiff: A period of dejection: A visit from Mr. Hilary: The hopes he conceives_ The bailiff and one of his followers walked beside me, cautiously keeping in advance; and the other marched behind till we came to a stand of coaches, and I was asked whether one of them should be called?
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
wretchednessnoun
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading I was wholly unused to such places: this I suspect was one of the meanest of them; and the approach to the house, as well as all that was in it, bespoke wretchedness, and inspired disgust.
