Chapter II

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

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

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

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

offensively bold

From this reading Beer makes them cross or cheeky, depending, I suppose, on the make of the beer.

pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

travel across or pass over

From this reading Beer makes them cross or cheeky, depending, I suppose, on the make of the beer.

-ing form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)

From this reading Beer makes them cross or cheeky, depending, I suppose, on the make of the beer.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

one or the other of two

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

all things; all of a situation

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading Mother never gives it.

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

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

engage in

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading Beer makes them cross or cheeky, depending, I suppose, on the make of the beer.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Beer makes them cross or cheeky, depending, I suppose, on the make of the beer.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

make powerless and unable to function

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

plural of “stomach” — an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

with strength or in a strong manner

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

express a supposition

From this reading Beer makes them cross or cheeky, depending, I suppose, on the make of the beer.

imagine to be the case or true or probable

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading You can punish or reward a servant best through its stomach, and don't give them beer, or beer-money either!

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

precisely as stated

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

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

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

which person or people

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She is the kind of mistress who knows how to do everything better herself, and that kind never gets good servants; it seems to paralyze the poor girls, and make them limp and without an idea in their heads, or what they choose to call their heads, which I strongly suspect is their stomachs.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You don't get a very good class of servant down this way, my mother says, but then she is so particular.