Chapter I

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

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

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

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

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

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

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

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

the force by which one object attracts another

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

capital of Germany located in eastern Germany

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

a man paid to drive a privately owned car

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

one of the large landmasses of the earth

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

growing or occurring in many parts of the world

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

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

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

inappropriate to reality or facts

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

third-person singular of “denote” — be a sign or indication of

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

covered with a layer of dust

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

a man who is a native or inhabitant of England

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

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

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

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

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

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

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

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

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

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

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

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

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

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

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

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

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

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

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

apprehended with certainty

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

a record in which commercial accounts are recorded

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

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

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

plural of “lunch” — a midday meal

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

a city in east-central France on the Rhone River; a principal producer of silk and rayon

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

plural of “manufacturer” — a business engaged in manufacturing some product

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

the branch of physics concerned with the motion of bodies in a frame of reference

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

not any; not one

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

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

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

above and across; more than

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

past form of “prosper” — make steady progress; be at the high point in one's career or reach a high point in historical significance or importance

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

a chain of mountains between France and Spain

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

-ing form of “represent” — take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

two (or more) slices of bread with a filling between them

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

a simple seat without a back or arms

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

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

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

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

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading I had always had a turn for mechanics, but was never allowed to adopt engineering as a profession, my father's one idea being that I should follow in his footsteps--a delusive hope entertained by many a fond parent.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

the capital and largest city of Austria; located on the Danube in northeastern Austria; was the home of Beethoven and Brahms and Haydn and Mozart and Schubert and Strauss

From this reading In Paris, in Rome, in Florence, in Berlin, in Vienna--in fact, over half the face of Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Russian frontier--I am now known as "The Count's Chauffeur."

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

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

at the time that

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

in or at the place that

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At twenty I tried City life, but an office with a high stool, a dusty ledger, and sandwich lunches, had no attraction for me.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading When I was fourteen, my father, having prospered, came to London, and established himself as an agent in Wood Street, City, representing a great firm of silk manufacturers in Lyons.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading An Englishman, as my name George Ewart denotes, I am of cosmopolitan birth and education, my early youth having been spent on the Continent, where my father was agent for a London firm.