Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

(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 "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading CDXXXVII.--AN HONEST WARRANTY.

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading A GENTLEMAN once bought a horse of a country-dealer.

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

a person who buys

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading CDXXXVI.--UNREASONABLE.

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

From this reading CDXXXVII.--AN HONEST WARRANTY.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

make or work out a plan for; devise

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading A GENTLEMAN once bought a horse of a country-dealer.

stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

apart from; not including

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

plural of “fault” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

a boy or man

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

a man of refinement

From this reading A GENTLEMAN once bought a horse of a country-dealer.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading CDXXXVII.--AN HONEST WARRANTY.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading A GENTLEMAN once bought a horse of a country-dealer.

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

characteristic of humanity

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

the force of workers available

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

not any; not one

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

many times at short intervals

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

on one occasion

From this reading A GENTLEMAN once bought a horse of a country-dealer.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

term of address for a man

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

a small coin of the United Kingdom worth six pennies; not minted since 1970

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

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

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

male cat

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

not reasonable; not showing good judgment

From this reading CDXXXVI.--UNREASONABLE.

plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

a written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications

From this reading CDXXXVII.--AN HONEST WARRANTY.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

at the time that

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

the least favorable outcome

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "TOM," said a colonel to one of his men, "how can so good and brave a soldier as you get drunk so often?"--"Colonel," replied he, "how can you expect all the _virtues_ that adorn the human character for _sixpence_ a-day?"

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The bargain concluded, and the money paid, the gentleman said, "Now, my friend, I have bought your horse, what are his faults?"--"I know of no faults that he has, except two," replied the man; "and _one_ is, that he is hard to catch."--"Oh! never mind that," said the buyer, "I will contrive to catch him at any time, I will engage; but what is the other?"--"Ah, sir! that is the worst," answered the fellow; "he is good for nothing when you _have_ caught him."