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 This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

how long something has existed

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

side by side

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

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

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

past form of “closet” — confine to a small space, as for intensive work

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

possessive form of “company” — an institution created to conduct business

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

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

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

set up or found

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

the head of a state government

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

possessive form of “governor” — the head of a state government

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

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

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

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

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

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

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

of the present time and place

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

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

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

a form of address for a man

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

not any; not one

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

according to the clock

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

-ing form of “request” — express the need or desire for

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

the act of dwelling in a place

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

past form of “row” — propel with oars

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-two and one

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

precisely as stated

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

at the time that

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

in or at the place that

From this reading I immediately entered the boat with the secretary, and was rowed to the shore, where, when we had come to the Residency, I found the four gentlemen waiting for me.

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

From this reading He said no, but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott, the Company's agent, had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel, of the banking-house, for some time, and then had sent this message to me by him, which was plainly one of very great consequence.

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

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

which person or people

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

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

From this reading I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance.

a late time of life

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon; at about four a small boat came alongside, and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck, who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb, the Governor's secretary.