Chapter XXXIX

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

(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 But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

the state of being allied or confederated

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

in addition

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

pave with cobblestones

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

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

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

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

From this reading LADY DEEPBELL.

plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

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

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

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

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

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

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

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

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

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

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading LADY DEEPBELL.

plural of “lane” — a narrow way or road

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

immediately past

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

information about recent and important events

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

not any; not one

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

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

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

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

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

by chance

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

someone who guards prisoners

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

a special situation

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

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

From this reading Then by degrees it began to be rumoured about the country, and at last through the lanes of Beetham itself, that the alliance between Major Rossiter and Miss Georgiana Wanless was not quite a settled thing.

at the time that

From this reading But all of them heard it before Alice, and when others believed it Alice did not believe it,--or, indeed, care to believe or not to believe.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

which person or people

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Mr. Burmeston had whispered in Slowbridge that there was a screw loose, perhaps thinking that if another could escape, why not he also?

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

From this reading Cobble, who had no idea of escaping, declared his conviction that Major Rossiter ought to be horsewhipped; but Lady Deepbell was the real town-crier who carried the news far and wide.