Chapter I

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

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

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

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

later than; following

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

(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 And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

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

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

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

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

several things grouped together or considered as a whole

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

the quality of being intricate and compounded

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

make or cause to be or to become

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

remove the dust from

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

relating to or being an element

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

set up or found

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

plural of “happening” — an event that happens

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

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

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

a collection of objects laid on top of each other

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

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

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

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

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

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

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

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

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

unusual largeness in size or extent or number

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

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

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

incapable of being explained or accounted for

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

plural of “invention” — the creation of something in the mind

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

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

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

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

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

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

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

engage in

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

plural of “marriage” — the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

plural of “ministry” — religious ministers collectively (especially Presbyterian)

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

of an obscure nature

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

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

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

have ownership or possession of

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

by chance

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

a person who represents others

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

express in words

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

plural of “sermon” — an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

the quality of being significant

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

superlative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

a very small spot

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

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

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

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

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

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

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

in the direction of

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

the cognitive condition of someone who understands

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

a formal word for “on”

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading One of the strongest tales in this collection, "Tempting Providence," is very representative of Kuprin in this vein.

precisely as stated

From this reading "Oh how incomprehensible for us, how mysterious, how strange are the very simplest happenings in life.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

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

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

produce a literary work

From this reading And we, not understanding them, unable to penetrate their significance, heap one event upon another, plait them together, join them, make acquaintances and marriages, write books, say sermons, found ministries, carry on war or trade, make new inventions and then after all, create history!

third-person singular of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading So in a paragraph in one of his sketches Alexander Kuprin gives his feelings about his life and his work, and in that expression perhaps we see his characteristic attitude towards the world of which he writes.

but in spite of that

From this reading And yet every time I think of the immensity and complexity, the incomprehensible and elemental accidentoriness of the whole hurly-burly of life, then my own little life seems but a miserable speck of dust lost in the whirl of a hurricane."