Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

(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 “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.)

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

payment or reward (especially from a government) for acts such as catching criminals or killing predatory animals or enlisting in the military

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

a state at a particular time

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

without stop or interruption

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the state of owing something (especially money)

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

move gently or carefully

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

construct, build, or erect

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

past form of “extricate” — release from entanglement of difficulty

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

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

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

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

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

freedom from control or influence of another or others

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

a title used to address any British peer except a duke and extended to a bishop or a judge

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

not any; not one

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

a human being

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

tending to reconcile or accommodate; bringing into harmony

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

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

From this reading “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

to a remarkable degree or extent

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the state of being retired from one's business or occupation

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

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

From this reading “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “All this is an exact picture of the man,” refumed Oldbuck.

information about recent and important events

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

the act of using

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

at the time that

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

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

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

which person or people

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

in a willing manner

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Had he not,” continued his Lordship, “a coarse blue coat, or gown, with a badge?--was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his profession?”

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.

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

From this reading I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation.”

but in spite of that

From this reading “Why, then,” continued Lord Glenallan, “although I fear I can be of no use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I fear, my lord,” said Oldbuck, “he would have difficulty in reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at least I know the experiment has been tried without effect.