Chapter XII · A Tempting Offer

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

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

perfect or complete or pure

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

in addition

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

eagerly desirous

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

any thing at all

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

without a doubt

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

an occurrence of something

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

someone who has won first place in a competition

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

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

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

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

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

Emperor of Rome who stopped the persecution of Christians and in 324 made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire; in 330 he moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople (280-337)

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

in an accurate manner

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

one or the other of two

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

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

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

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

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

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

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

an agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

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

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

begging

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

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

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

(chemistry) not participating in a chemical reaction; chemically inert

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

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

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

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

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

as might be expected

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

on the contrary

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

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

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

a special situation

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

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

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

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

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

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

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

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

From this reading Naturally, under the pressure of Ida's imploring letter, Colonel Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London.

accept gladly

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

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

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.

in or at the place that

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that Miss Hest should champion Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come down to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke correctly, his presence would not be welcome either to Miss Hest or her co-conspirator.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some object in view.

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

From this reading Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were confronted the absolute facts of the case would certainly come to light.