Chapter XXV

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

a New Testament book describing the development of the early church from Christ's Ascension to Paul's sojourn at Rome

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

later than; following

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

plural of “agent” — an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

(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 If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

for a short time

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

plural of “bag” — a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

plural of “carrier” — someone whose employment involves carrying something

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

include or contain; have as a component

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in “college-bound students”

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

by good fortune

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

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

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

plural of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

the literary culture

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

plural of “mail” — the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

engage in

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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 _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

the force of workers available

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

and nothing more

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

plural of “moan” — an utterance expressing pain or disapproval

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

absolutely essential

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

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

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

not any; not one

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

in other respects or ways

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

plural of “postmaster” — the person in charge of a post office

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

bring forth or yield

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

not fanciful or imaginative

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

for a short time

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

in the near future

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

plural of “soul” — the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

express a supposition

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

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

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

below the required standards for a purpose

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

not in a reasonable or intelligent manner

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

marked by diversity or difference

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

precisely as stated

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

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

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

have a certain weight

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

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

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

which person or people

From this reading _In which Miss Sudie Acts very Unreasonably._ The men who make up mails and handle great bags full of letters every day of their lives grow accustomed to the business, I suppose, and learn after awhile to regard the bags and their contents merely as so many pounds of "mail matter."

in the company of; together with

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading But fortunately there are prosaic souls enough in the world to make all necessary mail agents and postmasters, and undertakers and grave-diggers out of.

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

From this reading Otherwise they would soon become unfit for their duties.

a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading If they could weigh those bags with other than material scales--if they could know how many human hopes and fears; how much of human purpose and human despair; how many joys and how much of wretchedness those bags contain; if they could hear the moans that utter themselves inside the canvas; if they could know the varying purposes with which all those letters have been written, and the various effects they are destined to produce; if our mail carriers could know and feel all these things, or the half of them, we should shortly have no mail carriers at all.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading In the small mail bag thrown off at the Court House one December morning, there was one little package of New York letters--three letters in all, but on those three letters hung the happiness of several human lives.