Chapter XI

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

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

at or in the front

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

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

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

divisible by two

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

opinion or judgment

From this reading "Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

only a very short time before

From this reading "Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading "Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

engage in

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

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

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

the force of workers available

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

being perceived or observed

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading "Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

plural of “retainer” — a fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

term of address for a man

From this reading "I noticed that too, sir.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

express a supposition

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

having a tail of a specified kind; often used in combination

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

in or at that place or location

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

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

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading "I noticed that too, sir.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I expect they tailed off by the way and took to their beds.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

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

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

in the company of; together with

From this reading However, I don’t suppose that will make any difference to us; there are sure to be a number of retainers in such a big house--too many for us to cope with."

the day immediately before today

From this reading "I expect some of those men ahead must be even more tired than we are; indeed, I have noticed that the tracks are fewer this morning than they were yesterday evening."