Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

matters of personal concern

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

how long something has existed

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

(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 white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

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

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

a youthful male person

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

a clergyman or other person in religious orders

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

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

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

plural of “congregation” — a group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

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

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

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

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

a competitor thought likely to win

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

the father of your father or mother

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

set down according to a plan

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

hear with intention

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

the act of managing something

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

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

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

not any; not one

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

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

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

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

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

plural of “sermon” — an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

being ten more than sixty

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

not in physical motion

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

carry out

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

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

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading JOAN'S SEARCH Miss Priscilla Parry's head servant, old Nathan, took to Joan from the first.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

precisely as stated

From this reading Like most of the people about, he was no Churchman; and being very ready of speech he was a favourite preacher to the little congregations meeting in some of the farm-houses scattered about the mountains.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

at the time that

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had lived as a boy with her grandfather, and as a man with her father, and the farm seemed to belong as much to him as to her.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.

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

From this reading Every Sunday evening there was a service held in Priscilla's kitchen, when twenty or thirty of the neighbours would come in to listen to Nathan's sermons.

a late time of life

From this reading He was a white-headed, strong old man, nearly seventy years of age, but still able to do a fair day's work, or to take the whole management of affairs, if Miss Priscilla were laid up, which she never had been in all her life.