Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

in the past

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

(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 In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

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

From this reading POETRY AND PROSE.

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

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a financier who owns or is an executive in a bank

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

past form of “boast” — show off

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

the two together, not just one

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

confined by bonds

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

an officer in the Episcopal church who helps a parish priest with secular matters

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

plural of “coach” — (sports) someone in charge of training an athlete or a team

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

(Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthood

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

being ten more than thirty

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

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

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

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

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

having or proceeding from an innately kind disposition

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

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

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

impressiveness in scale or proportion

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

attach a tag or label to

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

the force of workers available

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

not any; not one

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

plural of “occupier” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

and nothing more

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

for each

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

literature in metrical form

From this reading POETRY AND PROSE.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

having great influence

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

ordinary writing as distinguished from verse

From this reading POETRY AND PROSE.

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

except for; apart from

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

being one more than fifteen

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a residential district located on the outskirts of a city

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

express in words

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

(formal) in or into that thing or place

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading In the other, lived Edward Thurnall, esquire, doctor of medicine, and consulting physician of all the country round.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of his or her king or sovereign

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

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

From this reading These two men were as brothers; and had been as brothers for now twenty years, though no two men could be more different, save in the two common virtues which bound them to each other; and that was, that they both were honest and kind-hearted men.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

at the time that

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

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

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading In one of these two houses, sixteen years ago, lived our friend Mark Armsworth, banker, solicitor, land-agent, churchwarden, guardian of the poor, justice of the peace,--in a word, viceroy of Whitbury town, and far more potent therein than her gracious majesty Queen Victoria.

a late time of life

From this reading Now, to tell my story--if not as it ought to be told, at least as I can tell it,--I must go back sixteen years,--to the days when Whitbury boasted of forty coaches per diem, instead of one railway,--and set forth how, in its southern suburb, there stood two pleasant houses side by side, with their gardens sloping down to the Whit, and parted from each other only by the high brick fruit-wall, through which there used to be a door of communication; for the two occupiers were fast friends.