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 The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

distinctive manner of oral expression

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

(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 The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

contrived by art rather than nature

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom's new-found employment proved but ephemeral.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

capital of the state of New Hampshire; located in south central New Hampshire on the Merrimack river

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom walked soberly forth from the shop of concord.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

gotten under control

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

plural of “creditor” — a person to whom money is owed by a debtor; someone to whom an obligation exists

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

(of land or soil) used for growing crops

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

the state of being out of favor

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

characterized by musical dissonance; harmonically unresolved

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

the state of being employed or having a job

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom's new-found employment proved but ephemeral.

a large retail store organized into departments offering a variety of merchandise; commonly part of a retail chain

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

lasting a very short time

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom's new-found employment proved but ephemeral.

belonging to some prior time

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

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

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom walked soberly forth from the shop of concord.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom walked soberly forth from the shop of concord.

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

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

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

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom walked soberly forth from the shop of concord.

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

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom's new-found employment proved but ephemeral.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

an opening into or through something

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

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

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

a feeling facetious merriment

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

a large bottle with a narrow mouth

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

immediately past

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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 The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

plural of “minion” — a servile or fawning dependant

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom's new-found employment proved but ephemeral.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

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

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom's new-found employment proved but ephemeral.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

migratory

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

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

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

established beyond doubt

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom's new-found employment proved but ephemeral.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

past form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

from appearances alone

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

the principal law-enforcement officer in a county

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

do one's shopping

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom walked soberly forth from the shop of concord.

in a grave and sober manner

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom walked soberly forth from the shop of concord.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading The next day the sheriff took possession of the music emporium and all it contained, including the nomadic piano and the now empty jug.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading Mr. Heatherbloom walked soberly forth from the shop of concord.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

at the time that

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

which person or people

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.

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

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors whom he, in consequence, faced with a seemingly care-free, if artificial, jocularity.

something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

From this reading He had but turned the corner of the street when into the now dissonant "hole in the wall", amid the scene of wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent and who regarded the erstwhile proprietor and the minions of the law with ill-concealed arrogance and disfavor.