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 Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

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

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

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

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

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

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

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

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

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

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

without care or concern

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

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

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

the act of examining resemblances

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

without stop or interruption

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

plural of “cymbal” — a percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk; makes a loud crashing sound when hit with a drumstick or when two are struck together

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

an army unit large enough to sustain combat

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

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

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

plural of “handcuff” — shackle that consists of a metal loop that can be locked around the wrist; usually used in pairs

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

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

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

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

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

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

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

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

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

past form of “institute” — set up or lay the groundwork for

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

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

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

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

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

past form of “mention” — make reference to

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

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

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

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

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

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

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

by chance

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading Miss Miggs (_B.R._) clanks her pattens as if they were a pair of cymbals.

a remark that calls attention to something or someone

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

Identical; not different.

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

plural of “sentence” — a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

take away possessions from someone

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

a shallow drum with a single drumhead and with metallic disks in the sides

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

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

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

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

From this reading Perhaps the most extraordinary comparison is that instituted by Mrs. Lirriper in reference to her late husband.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (continued) Many musical instruments and terms are mentioned by way of illustration.

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

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'

in the company of; together with

From this reading Blathers, the Bow Street officer (_O.T._), plays carelessly with his handcuffs as if they were a pair of castanets.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Mr. Bounderby (_H.T._), during his conversation with Harthouse, with his hat in his hand, gave a beat upon the crown at every division of his sentences, as if it were a tambourine; and in the same work the electric wires rule 'a colossal strip of music-paper out of the evening sky.'