Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

(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 All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater)

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading Author of _The Lake of Wine_, etc.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

after the expected or usual time; delayed

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

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

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

plural of “editor” — a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

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

From this reading Author of _The Lake of Wine_, etc.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

apart from; not including

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

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

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

to or toward the inside of

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading Author of _The Lake of Wine_, etc.

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

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

plural of “magazine” — a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

abnormally large

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of _The Lake of Wine_, etc.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

approval to do something

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

a publication (such as a book) that is reprinted without changes or editing and offered again for sale

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

preliminary drawing for later elaboration

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

plural of “story” — 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 The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

past form of “suck” — draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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 All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

an acknowledgment of appreciation

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

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

From this reading Author of _The Lake of Wine_, etc.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

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

From this reading All except three of the following Tales have already appeared in English or American Magazines.

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

From this reading The best thanks of the author are due to the Editors of the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," "Lippincott's" and "Pearson's" Magazines, and to the Editor of the "Sketch," for permission to reprint such of the stories as have been published in their pages.

doing arduous or unpleasant work

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

of imposing height; especially standing out above others

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

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

From this reading It so fell that one dark evening in the month of June I was belated in the Bernese Oberland.

belonging to which person

From this reading Dusk overtook me toiling along the great Chamounix Road, and in the heart of a most desolate gorge, whose towering snow-flung walls seemed--as the day sucked inwards to a point secret as a leech's mouth--to close about me like a monstrous amphitheatre of ghosts.

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading Author of _The Lake of Wine_, etc.