Chapter XXX · A Great Surprise

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

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

(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 How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

Having no one else present.

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

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

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

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

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

for the reason that

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

at or toward the back of something

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading A violent snowstorm was raging, and it was bitter cold.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

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

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading A violent snowstorm was raging, and it was bitter cold.

plural of “crowd” — a large number of things or people considered together

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

the state of being decayed or destroyed

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

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

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

even

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

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

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

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

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

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

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

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

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

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

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

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

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

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

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

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

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

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

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

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

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

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

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A violent snowstorm was raging, and it was bitter cold.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

and nothing more

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

the officer below the master on a commercial ship

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

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

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

not any; not one

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense

From this reading A violent snowstorm was raging, and it was bitter cold.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

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

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds

From this reading A violent snowstorm was raging, and it was bitter cold.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

not in physical motion

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

characterized by great swelling waves or surges

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

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

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

a large gathering of people

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

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

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

a just detectable amount

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

precisely as stated

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity

From this reading A violent snowstorm was raging, and it was bitter cold.

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

From this reading A violent snowstorm was raging, and it was bitter cold.

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

very cordial

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

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

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Busy as the streets of the great metropolis always were there seemed to be more than the usual throng surging to and fro, and then John Dinsmore remembered what he came very near forgetting, that it was Thanksgiving Eve.

at the time that

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

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

From this reading John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.

which person or people

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Like some lone bird, without a mate, My weary heart is desolate; I look around, and cannot trace One friendly smile, one welcoming face; And e’en in crowds, I’m still alone, Because--I cannot love--but one.”

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading How happy were the faces of all who passed him, as though there were no such things in the world as sorrow, desolation, and heartaches.

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 John Dinsmore experienced quite a change of climate when he reached New York from that which he had just left behind him in the sunny South.