Chapter XXII · The Rector’s Decision

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

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

(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 In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

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

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

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

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

measured by an angle or by the rate of change of an angle

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

eagerly desirous

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

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

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

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

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

in a brisk manner

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

past form of “chill” — depress or discourage

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

inflected form of “demur” — take exception to

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

the operator of a motor vehicle

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

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

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

extend in scope or range or area

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

promote over another

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

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

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

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

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

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

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

running at a jog trot as a form of cardiopulmonary exercise

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

a boy or man

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

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

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

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

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

the force of workers available

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

a form of address for a man

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

not any; not one

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

on one occasion

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

past form of “persist” — continue to exist

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

a range horse of the western United States

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

a purple color or pigment

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

with low volume

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

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

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

possessing material wealth

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

a person who rises (especially from bed)

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

having been made square

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

not in physical motion

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

restricted to something

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

-ing form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

the rays of the sun

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

past form of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

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

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

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

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

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

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

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

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

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

From this reading In two minutes he was striding briskly along the road, his shoulders squared, and the night’s reflections still running like a rich purple thread through the common stuff of his every-day thoughts.

conducive to or feeling mental discomfort

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading He had no overcoat, and the drive had chilled him; and, anxious at once to warm himself and to reach the rectory as quietly as possible, he bade the driver stop at the gate and set him down.

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

From this reading The church clock was striking nine as the rector, jogging along behind the little pony, came in sight of the turnpike-house outside the town.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.

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

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

which person or people

From this reading In this mood, which the pure morning air and crisp sunshine tended to favor and prolong, he came at a corner plump upon Mr. Bonamy, who, like all angular, uncomfortable men, was an early riser, and had this morning chosen to extend his before-breakfast walk in the direction of Baerton.

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

From this reading The lad had been strictly charged to see the parson home, and would have demurred, but Lindo persisted good-humoredly, and had his way.