Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

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

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

later than; following

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

(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 These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

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

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

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

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

any person at all

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

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

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

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

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

take in liquids

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

the organ of sight

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

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

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

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

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

set up or found

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

possessive form of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

a half of an hour

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

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

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

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

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

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

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

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

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

plural of “journal” — a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

plural of “muff” — a warm tubular covering for the hands

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

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

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

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

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

on the contrary

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

cut with a saw

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

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

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

plural of “snapshot” — an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

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

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, feeling rather exhausted, he ordered a drink, and forgot it, and smoked a cigarette.

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

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

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

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

without forethought or plan; inadvertently

From this reading These people, caught unawares, seemed to be all feet and parasols, or smiles and muffs.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

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

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

look attentively

From this reading He looked at his watch as if in sudden anxiety, and found that it was half-past one.

a periodical that is published every week (or 52 issues per year)

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.

at the time that

From this reading When he saw anyone he knew, he put on an absent-minded air, and avoided the friend's eye.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A LOVE SCENE Percy waited on and on, minute after minute, half-hour after half-hour, reading the morning papers, staring with apparent deep interest at the pictures in the weekly journals--rather depressing foreshortened snapshots of society at racecourses.