Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

having fair knowledge of

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

how long something has existed

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

(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 Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

Having no one else present.

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

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

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

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

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

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

From this reading George Henry wanted to be at peace with all the world, and now there were obstacles in the way.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

cheerfulness that bubbles to the surface

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

comparative of “clever” — showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

the state of being with someone

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

carefully weighed

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

determine the number or amount of

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

without question and beyond doubt

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

although something is true; in spite of

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

the point or degree to which something extends

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

having unexpected good fortune

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

plural of “friendship” — the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

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

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

(of animals) tending to form a group with others of the same species

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

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

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

English actor on stage and in films (1908-1990)

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

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

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

showing warm and heartfelt friendliness

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

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

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

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

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

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

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

and nothing more

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

people descended from a common ancestor

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

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

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

plural of “obstacle” — something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted

From this reading George Henry wanted to be at peace with all the world, and now there were obstacles in the way.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading George Henry wanted to be at peace with all the world, and now there were obstacles in the way.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

relating to human society and its members

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

having a supporting base

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

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

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

in or at that place or location

From this reading George Henry wanted to be at peace with all the world, and now there were obstacles in the way.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

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

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

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

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

in the direction of

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

worthy of trust or belief

From this reading He should have been a happy man, and had been one, in fact, up to the time when this trustworthy account begins; but just now, despite his natural buoyancy of spirit, he did not count himself among the blessed.

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

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading George Henry wanted to be at peace with all the world, and now there were obstacles in the way.

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

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading George Henry wanted to be at peace with all the world, and now there were obstacles in the way.

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

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

at the time that

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.

during the time that

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was acquainted with a great many people; he had a recognized social standing, was somewhat cleverer than the average man, and his instincts, while refined by education and experience, were decidedly gregarious and toward hearty companionship.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading George Henry Harrison, though without living near kinfolk, had never considered himself alone in the world.

a late time of life

From this reading Up to the time when he became thirty years of age he had always thought himself, when he thought of the matter at all, as fortunate in the extent of his friendships.