Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

remote in manner

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

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

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading “We are over an hour late now.

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

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading Author of “The Grafters,” “The Master of Appleby,” etc.

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

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

the residue that remains when something is burned

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of “The Grafters,” “The Master of Appleby,” etc.

in a brisk manner

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

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

From this reading “More delay,” said the cigarettist, glancing at his watch.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

cause to be slowed down or delayed

From this reading “More delay,” said the cigarettist, glancing at his watch.

a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading Author of “The Grafters,” “The Master of Appleby,” etc.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading “More delay,” said the cigarettist, glancing at his watch.

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

From this reading Author of “The Grafters,” “The Master of Appleby,” etc.

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

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading “More delay,” said the cigarettist, glancing at his watch.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading “We are over an hour late now.

moving with great haste

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

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

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

a state in midwestern United States

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading “We are over an hour late now.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading Author of “The Grafters,” “The Master of Appleby,” etc.

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

a noisy riotous fight

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

the force of workers available

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading “More delay,” said the cigarettist, glancing at his watch.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

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

From this reading “We are over an hour late now.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of “The Grafters,” “The Master of Appleby,” etc.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

above and across; more than

From this reading “We are over an hour late now.

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

move hurridly

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “More delay,” said the cigarettist, glancing at his watch.

being the most concentrated solution possible at a given temperature; unable to dissolve still more of a substance

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

having the sense of smell

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

cooked in steam

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

plural of “temperature” — the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading Author of “The Grafters,” “The Master of Appleby,” etc.

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

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

plural of “throng” — a large gathering of people

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

create by training and teaching

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

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

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

look attentively

From this reading “More delay,” said the cigarettist, glancing at his watch.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “We are over an hour late now.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading It was a December morning,--the Missouri December of mild temperatures and saturated skies,--and the Chicago and Alton's fast train, dripping from the rush through the wet night, had steamed briskly to its terminal track in the Union Station at Kansas City.

which person or people

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Two men, one smoking a short pipe and the other snapping the ash from a scented cigarette, stood aloof from the hurrying throngs on the platform, looking on with the measured interest of those who are in a melee but not of it.