Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

later than; following

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

Having no one else present.

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

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

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

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

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

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

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

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

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

of persons; not subject to change

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

bring shame or dishonor upon

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

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

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

past form of “expound” — add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

communicated in words

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

plural of “friday” — the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

usually; as a rule

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

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

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

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

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

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

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

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

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

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

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

a unit of instruction

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

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

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

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

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

imposing in size or bulk or solidity

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

a white clayey mineral

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

possessive form of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

having great power or force or potency or effect

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

an upholstered seat for more than one person

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

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

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

an Apocryphal book consisting of text added to the Book of Daniel

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading The big, grey-haired man, with his broad, powerful face, and massive silver spectacles, generally pushed up on to his forehead above the heavy eyebrows, sat on the sofa with his big meerschaum pipe in his mouth, and expounded, while I, smart and attentive, listened in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

up to a particular time

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The lesson up in the minister's study was an entirely new mental development for me.

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

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

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

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

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

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.

during the time that

From this reading _CONFIRMATION_ While matters were in this state between our parents, the time came for Susanna and me to be confirmed.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As I was not entered until some time after the confirmation course had begun, it was arranged that, besides the class in the church every Monday, I was to read alone with the minister on Fridays.

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

From this reading In his abrupt way my father made me a little private speech, in which he expressed a hope that I would not disgrace him before the minister.