Chapter X

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

plural of “account” — a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

tending to become more severe or wider in scope

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

(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 But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

any thing at all

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

capability to perform or produce

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

a state at a particular time

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

expressive of low opinion

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

a person or firm that employs workers

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

at a previous time

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

engage in

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

a form of address for a man

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

not any; not one

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

a person's partner in marriage

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

start suddenly, as from fright

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

from a time in the past until now

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

a male human offspring

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

an impression that something might be the case

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.