Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

(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 "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

any thing at all

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

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

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

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

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

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

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

being or relating to or like a chimera

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

plural of “collection” — several things grouped together or considered as a whole

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

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

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

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 Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

at any time

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

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

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

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

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

a native or inhabitant of Italy

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

engage in

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)

From this reading Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

not one and not the other of two

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

and nothing more

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

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 As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

plural of “pin” — a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

worthless material that is to be disposed of

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

cut with a saw

From this reading Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

a member of a senate

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

Roman statesman and philosopher who was an advisor to Nero; his nine extant tragedies are modeled on Greek tragedies (circa 4 BC - 65 AD)

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

plural of “sermon” — an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.

From this reading Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

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

From this reading Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

plural of “system” — instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

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

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

a special situation

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

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

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

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

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

being of use or service

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading "There might be," said Pococurante, "if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins; but in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing."

(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 As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

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

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

in the company of; together with

From this reading Martin saw some shelves filled with English books.

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading "And what dramatic works I see here," said Candide, "in Italian, Spanish, and French."

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes," replied the Senator, "there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading As to those collections of sermons, which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor any one else ever opens them."