Chapter X · Bobs as Bookseller

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

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

anew

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

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

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

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

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

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

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

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

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

pecuniary reimbursement to the winning party for the expenses of litigation

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

possessive form of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

any strong feeling

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

set up or found

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

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

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

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

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

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

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

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

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

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

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

engage in

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

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

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

covered with or smelling of mold

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

according to the clock

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

on one occasion

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

win a victory over

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

get by special effort

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

on the contrary

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

-ing form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

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

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

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

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

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

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

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

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

do one's shopping

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

past form of “shuffle” — walk by dragging one's feet

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

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 old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

happening unexpectedly

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

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

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

in or at that place or location

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

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

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

like the short high ringing sound of a small bell

From this reading However, the tinkling of a bell sounded in the back room and the little old man shuffled in.

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

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

not held or filled or in use

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

an act of traveling by water

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

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

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

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

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

(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 His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

at the time that

From this reading It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Bobs entered the musty book shop on the East Side and found the place unoccupied.

in or at the place that

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

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

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading His expression was troubled, and when Roberta inquired for his invalid wife, he replied that she wasn't so well.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The old man seemed to be overcome with emotion, then suddenly recalling his customer's errand, he shuffled away to procure the package of detective stories for which she had called.

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

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."

prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

From this reading "Poor Marlitta," he said, and there was infinite tenderness in his voice, "she's yearning to go back to the home country where our children are and their children, and the doctor thinks it might make her strong once again to be there, but the voyage costs money, and Marlitta would rather die here than not go honest."