Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

(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 There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

any thing at all

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

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

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

a young person of either sex

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

someone who is a detective

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

one or the other of two

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

coins made of gold

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

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

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

only a very short time before

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

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

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

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

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

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

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

From this reading Are the stories you invent at all like the stories Dick Whittington made up for himself?

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

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

and nothing more

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

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

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

a boy or man

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

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

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Are the stories you invent at all like the stories Dick Whittington made up for himself?

engage in

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

not any; not one

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

and nothing more

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

plural of “opportunity” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

covered with a firm surface

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

plural of “photograph” — a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide or in digital format

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

likely but not certain to be or become true or real

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

Identical; not different.

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

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

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Are the stories you invent at all like the stories Dick Whittington made up for himself?

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

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

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

a special situation

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

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

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

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

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

precisely as stated

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

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

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

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

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

which person or people

From this reading It was Dick Whittington who first imagined anything so foolish; but then he was only a country lad, and in his days there were not the same opportunities for finding out the truth about things as there are now.

in the company of; together with

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.

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

From this reading There were very few books for one thing, and those there were cost a great deal of money, and would hardly be likely to come in Dick's way; so that if there was by chance a book which described London as it was then, it is not at all probable that he would have seen it.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading There were no photographs, either, to show him what London was really like, so, of course, he had to make up ideas about it himself, just as you who live in the country and have heard people talking about London do now.

superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading To begin with, the streets of London are not paved with gold; but I need not have said that, for nowadays the very youngest child knows it.