Chapter III

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

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

in the past

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

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

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

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

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

coverings that are used on a bed

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

-ing form of “curse” — utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

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

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

throw with force or recklessness

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

the act of departing

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

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

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

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

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

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

From this reading It was just his luck.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading Mr. Strong’nth’arm lay ill.

impervious to correction by punishment

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

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

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was just his luck.

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

a person who enjoys telling or playing jokes

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

and nothing more

From this reading It was just his luck.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Mr. Strong’nth’arm lay ill.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading It was just his luck.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Strong’nth’arm lay ill.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

inflammation of the pleura of the lungs (especially the parietal layer)

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

participate in an all-night techno dance party

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

past form of “reckon” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

in the near future

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

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

From this reading Mr. Strong’nth’arm lay ill.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

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

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

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

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

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

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

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

From this reading It was just his luck.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading They told him that if he kept quiet and didn’t rave and fling his arms about, sending the bedclothes half a dozen times a day on to the floor, he would soon get well.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.

small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done

From this reading For weeks he had been kicking his heels about the workshop, cursing Fate for not sending him a job.

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

From this reading And Fate--the incorrigible joker that she is--had knocked at his door ten days ago with an order that he reckoned would keep him going for a month, and then a week later had struck him down with pleurisy.