Chapter VI

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

plural of “ability” — the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

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

From this reading PAPA AND MAMMA.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

third-person singular of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

brought into existence

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”

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

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

subject to limits or subjected to limits

From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”

a social unit living together

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

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

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

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

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

the quality of promoting good health

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

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

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

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

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

the act of retaining something

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

ten 10s

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

the production of eggs (especially in birds)

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

informal terms for a mother

From this reading PAPA AND MAMMA.

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

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

the act of marching; walking with regular steps (especially in a procession of some kind)

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

possessive form of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

preside over

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading PAPA AND MAMMA.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

a false or unsupportable quality

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

an unvarying or habitual method or procedure

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

something that remunerates

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

the season of growth

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

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

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

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

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

plural of “undertaking” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

beyond doubt or reproach

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

precisely as stated

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

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

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

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

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

which person or people

From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”