Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

at or in the front

From this reading Life lay ahead.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

the first light of day

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

any strong feeling

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

belief about (or mental picture of) the future

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

the organ of sight

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

your parents

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

set up or found

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

muscular and heavily built

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

immediately past

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Life lay ahead.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Life lay ahead.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

Recollections of past events.

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

not any; not one

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

plural of “patriarch” — title for the heads of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (in Istanbul and Alexandria and Moscow and Jerusalem)

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

by chance

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

most frequent or common

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

get rid of

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

feeling self-importance

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

in or at that place or location

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

an old word for “yours”

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

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

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

exciting by touching lightly so as to cause laughter or twitching movements

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges

From this reading "Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine!"

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

a hole for the escape of gas or air

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

precisely as stated

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

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

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Perhaps this might be the last, the very last, they would live to see.

a late time of life

From this reading The volume of sound swelled and sank, here and there a voice took a husky tone; here and there an eye grew dim, but these belonged as a rule to the patriarchs among the guests, for whom the past was full of tender memories, for whom but a few more New Years could dawn.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading The young folks shed no tears; they were not unconscious of the prevailing emotion, but with them it found vent in a tingling expectation.