Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

possessive form of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

(of a surface) not written or printed on

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

placed in a grave

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

gotten under control

From this reading Lamb's library contained his father's copy of _Hudibras_.

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading Lamb's library contained his father's copy of _Hudibras_.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

grow worse

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

serving to describe or inform or characterized by description

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

a social unit living together

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Lamb's library contained his father's copy of _Hudibras_.

plural of “favour” — a feeling of favorable regard

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

marked by or showing hopelessness

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

death of a person

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

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

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

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

From this reading Lamb's library contained his father's copy of _Hudibras_.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

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

From this reading Lamb's library contained his father's copy of _Hudibras_.

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

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

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

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

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

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

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

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

young sheep

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

possessive form of “lamb” — young sheep

From this reading Lamb's library contained his father's copy of _Hudibras_.

a very young lamb

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

a room where books are kept

From this reading Lamb's library contained his father's copy of _Hudibras_.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

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

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

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

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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 Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

plural of “potion” — a medicinal or magical or poisonous beverage

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

third-person singular of “prove” — be shown or be found to be

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

a humorous play on words

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

except for; apart from

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

a male human offspring

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

one who lives through affliction

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The expression, however, proves that punning ran in the family.

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

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

a special situation

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

literature in metrical form

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

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

From this reading The infant lambkin was probably John Lamb, but of course it might have been Charles.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

of very poor quality or condition

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

but in spite of that

From this reading Lamb's phrase, descriptive of his father's decline, is taken with a variation from his own poems--from the "Lines written on the Day of my Aunt's Funeral" (_Blank Verse_, 1798):-- One parent yet is left,--a wretched thing, A sad survivor of his buried wife A palsy-smitten, childish, old, old man, A semblance most forlorn of what he was-- A merry cheerful man.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading My good friend, For favours to my son and wife, I shall love you whilst I've life, Your clysters, potions, help'd to save, Our infant lambkin from the grave.