Chapter XV · The Bazaar

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

past form of “aspire” — have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

past form of “canvass” — get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

plural of “comment” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

take exception to

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

start firing a weapon

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

in a free manner

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

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

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

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

From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.

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

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

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 But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

a form of address for a man

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

not any; not one

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

not one, and not any

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

the middle of the day

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

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

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

plural of “squabble” — a quarrel about petty points

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

plural of “stricture” — abnormal narrowing of a bodily canal or passageway

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

an arrangement of two or more objects or persons one behind another

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

in or at that place or location

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

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

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

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

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

inflected form of “wag” — move from side to side

From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

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

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.

during the time that

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

possessive form of “williams” — United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)

From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

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

From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.

(law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer

From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.