Chapter XII

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

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

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

chair with a support on each side for arms

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

a state at a particular time

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

having or marked by confidence or assurance

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

open to doubt or suspicion

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

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

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

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

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

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

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

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

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

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

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

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

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

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

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading THE PROBLEM.

to certain extent or degree

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

freed from illness or injury

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

be seated

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

be standing; be upright

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

not in physical motion

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

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

From this reading THE PROBLEM.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

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

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

as the end result of a succession or process

From this reading I felt reasonably confident, however, that he would do so ultimately.

up to a particular time

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

the act of using

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

-ing form of “utter” — articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading He startled us one morning by uttering his daughter’s name, and little by little recovered the use of his tongue.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

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

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Day by day the old man slowly improved in condition until at the end of three weeks he was able to sit in the armchair with comfort.

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

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.

but in spite of that

From this reading He was not yet able to stand or walk, and it was still doubtful whether he would recover the use of his lower limbs.