Chapter XV

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

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

plural of “age” — how long something has existed

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

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

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

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

From this reading THE KNIGHT APPEARS.

put into a proper or systematic order

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

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

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

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

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

give the right to

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

plural of “family” — a social unit living together

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

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

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

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

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

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

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

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

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading THE KNIGHT APPEARS.

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

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 The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

take in marriage

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

the force of workers available

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

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

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

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

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

plural of “parlor” — reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

by chance

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

only a very short time before

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

an educational institution

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

being one more than sixteen

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

being one more than fifteen

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

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

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

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

From this reading THE KNIGHT APPEARS.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

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

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

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

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

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

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

activity leading to skilled behavior

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

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

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

(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 The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

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

From this reading Halls and parlors were full of laughing boys and girls.

which person or people

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The ages, then, correspond well with those of the Greycliff girls, and it was not hard to arrange partners for dinner.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

a late time of life

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Their years, perhaps, might entitle them or some of them to be called young men and women, but this generation does not marry off its girls at sixteen or seventeen and its boys at scarcely more than twenty.

plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading The military school trained youths from about fifteen to twenty, many of them from families who liked to have their sons in military training for a few years.