Chapter II

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

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

in addition

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

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

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

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

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

without comfort

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

a state at a particular time

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

gotten under control

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening)

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

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

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

plural of “gu” — the largest and southernmost island in the Marianas which is administered as a territory of the United States; it was ceded by Spain to the United States in 1898

From this reading GUS' REAL NAME.

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

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

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

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

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

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

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

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

a tenant in someone's house

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

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

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

used to form the superlative

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading GUS' REAL NAME.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

out of fashion

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

and nothing more

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

plural of “pen” — a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

pen made from a bird's feather

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

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

From this reading GUS' REAL NAME.

a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

inclined to shake as from weakness or defect

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

witty remark

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

showing signs of wear and tear

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

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

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

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

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

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

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

the upper part of anything

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

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

From this reading It also contained two rickety chairs and a large, old-fashioned trunk, on the top of which lay about a score of books, most of them in a more or less shabby condition.

(of a bed) not having the sheets and blankets set in order

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

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

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

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

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.

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

From this reading GUS followed his father into the small back room which was their home.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a comfortless room, with an unmade bed in one corner and a small table in the middle, on which was a penny bottle of ink, a couple of quill pens, and a dingy remnant of blotting-paper.

the act of creating written works

From this reading The few poor articles of furniture were the property of Sally Dent; only the trunk, the books, and the writing materials belonged to her lodger.