Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

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

From this reading To attract attention was almost to insure frustration.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

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

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

adopted in order to deceive

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

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

From this reading To attract attention was almost to insure frustration.

direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading To attract attention was almost to insure frustration.

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading BLUE PETER.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

command with authority

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

freed from any question of guilt

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

an act that fails

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

set up or found

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals

From this reading To attract attention was almost to insure frustration.

the act of departing

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

From this reading To attract attention was almost to insure frustration.

not capable of being surmounted or overcome

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

and nothing more

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

(Scottish folklore) water spirit in the form of a horse that likes to drown its riders

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

not any; not one

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

and nothing more

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

a course of conduct

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

by chance

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading BLUE PETER.

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

not befitting

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

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

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

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

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

From this reading By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left London, lay in going direct to the wharf.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.

in the company of; together with

From this reading On his road he reflected on what had just passed, and was not altogether pleased with himself.

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

From this reading He had nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed, from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose, it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.