Chapter XVI

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

From this reading He had a strong conviction that the man’s story was true.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

later than; following

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

(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 Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

past form of “amount” — be tantamount or equivalent to

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

any thing at all

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

intentionally conceived

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

-ing form of “consider” — deem to be

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

From this reading He had a strong conviction that the man’s story was true.

a small house with a single story

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

possessive form of “cynthia” — (Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

recognizable; marked

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

without question and beyond doubt

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

an area near a fireplace (usually paved and extending out into a room)

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

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

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

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

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

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

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

a health facility where patients receive treatment

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

an impression that something might be the case

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

a room where books are kept

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He had a strong conviction that the man’s story was true.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

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

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

the act of departing politely

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

past form of “review” — look at again; examine again

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

inflected form of “simplify” — make simpler or easier or reduce in complexity or extent

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

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 He had a strong conviction that the man’s story was true.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading He had a strong conviction that the man’s story was true.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading He suddenly became conscious of something hard pressing against the palm of his hand and remembered the little red cap the tramp had given him at parting.

plural of “suspect” — someone who is under suspicion

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

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

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

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

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

a vagrant

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading He had a strong conviction that the man’s story was true.

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

From this reading Cynthia’s “hunch” had not amounted to much, after all, and he was sorry, more on her account than his own, for he had not expected anything himself from the interview.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.

past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion

From this reading It had, however, simplified matters, in so far as it had definitely wiped off the tramp from the possible list of suspects.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As Fayre passed down the broad staircase of the Cottage Hospital he reviewed his conversation with the tramp and decided that, considering the little he had gained by it, he might as well have stayed by the comfortable fireside in the library.