Chapter II

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

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

later than; following

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for 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 He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

plural of “attraction” — the force by which one object attracts another

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

a young person of either sex

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

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 When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

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

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

prepare a hot meal

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

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

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

that toward which you are inclined to feel dislike

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

communicated in words

From this reading When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

having an easygoing and cheerful disposition

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

highest in quality

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

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

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

go away from a place

From this reading When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

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

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

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 He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

to certain extent or degree

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

-ing form of “object” — express or raise an objection or protest or criticism or express dissent

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

on one occasion

From this reading When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

-ing form of “purr” — make a soft swishing sound

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

filled with satisfaction

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

in a serious manner

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

standing still

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

not in physical motion

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

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

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

precisely as stated

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

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

From this reading Old Rolls had been butler at Dalrulzian since John Erskine was a child.

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

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

From this reading She was a sort of human cat, large and smooth and good-natured, almost always purring, satisfied with herself and all who were moderately good to her; and, as was natural, she made the butler very comfortable, and was extremely attentive to all his little ways.

at the time that

From this reading When Colonel Barrington took the house, Rolls once more expressed his determination to leave.

which person or people

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had "stayed on" after Mrs Erskine's second marriage with reluctance, objecting seriously to a step-master at all, and still more to one that was an "English minister;" but the house had many attractions for him.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading He liked the place; his sister was the cook, a very stationary sort of woman, who had the greatest disinclination to move.