Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

(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 Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

a wide street or thoroughfare

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

pleasing or delighting

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

a price below the standard price

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

made or joined or united into one

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

plural of “convention” — a large formal assembly

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

past form of “devour” — destroy completely

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

on a floor below

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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 But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

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

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

plural of “frenchman” — a person of French nationality

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

usually; as a rule

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

having an unusually loud voice

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

of or relating to the state of marriage

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

plural of “painter” — an artist who paints

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

a regular customer

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

exaggeratedly proper

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

one of four equal parts

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

set aside for the use of a particular person or party

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

honorableness by virtue of being respectable and having a good reputation

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

a building where people go to eat

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

a male human offspring

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She held that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hill in the Boulevard de Montparnasse.

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

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

lacking refinement or cultivation or taste

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

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

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

at the time that

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.

in or at the place that

From this reading The _Chien Noir_, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was the most charming restaurant in the quarter.

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

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

which person or people

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

belonging to which person

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had a reputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build up a business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendliness attracted custom.

plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading But on the first floor was a narrow room, with three tables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party of English or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives.

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

From this reading At least, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonial respectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introduced into this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose.