Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

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

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

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

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

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

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

any utterance produced simultaneously by a group

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

United States singer and film actor (1903-1977)

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

precise; explicit and clearly defined

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

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

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

educate for a future role or function

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

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

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

a humming noise

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

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

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

in order that something should not happen

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

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

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

plural of “rebel” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

edge of a way or road or path

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

with safety; in a safe manner

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

express in speech

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

with speed

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

openly distrustful and unwilling to confide

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

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

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

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

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

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

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-eight and one

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading Watson was totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the hands of Lord Rosmore.

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

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

From this reading It mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely out of the town.

United States telephone engineer who assisted Alexander Graham Bell in his experiments (1854-1934)

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

(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 He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading OUT OF DORCHESTER Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.

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

From this reading He had received definite instructions to see that she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her; he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away in safety.

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

From this reading He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her.