Chapter XI

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

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

experiencing a sudden sense of danger

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

in addition

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

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

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

plural of “apprehension” — fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

giving confidence

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading THE MIDNIGHT ATTACK.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

in bodily form

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

without stop or interruption

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

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

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

heal or recover

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

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

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

plural of “hint” — an indirect suggestion

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

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

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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 He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading THE MIDNIGHT ATTACK.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

past form of “occasion” — give occasion to

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

on one occasion

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

owed as a debt

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

with speed

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She also improved the opportunity to give him a few hints on the importance of exercise to bodily health.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

small or little relative to something else

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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

From this reading THE MIDNIGHT ATTACK.

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

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

a source of difficulty

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

the act of using

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

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

From this reading He did not use his left hand much, however; and one day he was a good deal surprised, and a trifle alarmed, on discovering that the arm itself had become much smaller than the other.

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

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.

which person or people

From this reading He at once showed it to his aunt, who relieved his apprehensions by assuring him that its shrunken appearance was owing to its not being used.

people who are wounded

From this reading WHISTLER’S wounded finger continued to heal rapidly, and it now occasioned him but little trouble.