Chapter IV

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

From this reading For his work at the present moment was not an aim, but a distraction.

in an absentminded or preoccupied manner

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

From this reading For his work at the present moment was not an aim, but a distraction.

(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 very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading For his work at the present moment was not an aim, but a distraction.

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

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading But his attention was not as undivided as usual.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading But his attention was not as undivided as usual.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But his attention was not as undivided as usual.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

distributed or spread over a considerable extent

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

mental turmoil

From this reading For his work at the present moment was not an aim, but a distraction.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

covered with a layer of dust

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

being or in accordance with current social fashions

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a long fixed look

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

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

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

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

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

of great significance or value

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

of or relating to or resulting from industry

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

make a break in

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

and nothing more

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a room where books are kept

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a caustic substance produced by heating limestone

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

a title used to address any British peer except a duke and extended to a bishop or a judge

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

engage in

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

a particular point in time

From this reading For his work at the present moment was not an aim, but a distraction.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But his attention was not as undivided as usual.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading For his work at the present moment was not an aim, but a distraction.

plural of “pursuit” — the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

put into a recess

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

-ing form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

protected from heat and light with shade or shadow

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

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

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

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

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

not parted by conflict of opinion

From this reading But his attention was not as undivided as usual.

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

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading But his attention was not as undivided as usual.

precisely as stated

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

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

From this reading Granville Gray was sitting in the library of Lord Mayne’s town house.

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

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

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

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading He was very busy, for though it was the recess, and his lordship was away shooting in Scotland, and all the political and fashionable world was dispersed in different directions, this was just the time that he could devote to his own pursuits, and to certain important investigations regarding the industrial life of the country by which he hoped some day to make his name.

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

From this reading He would suddenly interrupt his work to walk up and down the room, or to gaze absently out of the window at the dusty lime trees that shaded the iron railing.