Chapter VII · Dealing with the Ogre

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

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

(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 Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

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

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

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

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

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

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

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

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

next to; at the side of

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

an alloy of copper and zinc

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

an occurrence of something

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

plural of “crony” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

gradually intrusive without right or permission

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

a plant having foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

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

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

set up or found

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

usually; as a rule

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

depressingly dark

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

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

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

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

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

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

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

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

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

cause to move by striking

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

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

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

a field of cultivated and mowed grass

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

kept in good condition

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

plural of “mansion” — (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

past form of “police” — maintain the security of by carrying out a patrol

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

the work of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing or waxing it

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

land and the buildings on it

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

on the contrary

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

superlative of “smooth” — having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

not in physical motion

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

successive (without a break)

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

-ing form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

past form of “term” — name formally or designate with a term

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

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

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

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

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.

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

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

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

From this reading It had been, in its day, one of the noted mansions of the town, and still maintained much of its former state.

the people living in a municipality smaller than a city

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

made neat and tidy by trimming

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

(law) the findings of a jury on issues of fact submitted to it for decision; can be used in formulating a judgment

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Major Bates lived in a big, brick house, made gloomy and forbidding by tall evergreen trees growing close to its walls.

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

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

(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 To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

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

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Its hedges were trimmed to a nicety; its graveled walks were straight of edge and free of encroaching grass; its lawn was the smoothest to be found for miles around; the brass rails beside the steps shone with frequent polishing.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading To his few cronies the Major admitted that he liked to keep his premises “well policed,” as he termed it, in memory of his army days; but the townspeople generally were of opinion that the verdict of a clever woman hit the case perfectly.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet, with all this care, there was something cheerless about the place, something suggesting an institution rather than a home.