Chapter II

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

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

later than; following

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

(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 First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

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

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

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

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

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

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

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

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

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

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

comparative of “clear” — readily apparent to the mind

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

to or in any or all places

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

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

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

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

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

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

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

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

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

in the near future

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

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

From this reading Presently, for the story changes like a dream, there came a giant named Pwanku.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

the complete duration of something

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

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 First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

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 INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

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

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

in or at that place or location

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

comparative of “thick” — not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

a diluting agent

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

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

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

the upper part of anything

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.

having come into contact

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading After a time this ‘khi’ began to turn round like a great invisible top.

up to a particular time

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

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

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

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

From this reading First of all, according to the story, there was something called ‘khi’ which could not be seen, nor touched, but was everywhere.

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading As it whirled round, the thicker part sank downwards and became the earth, whilst the thinner part rose upwards, growing clearer until it formed the sky, and so the heavens and the earth span themselves into being.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading THE INVISIBLE TOP The beginning of the world, as it is described to Chinese boys and girls, is stranger than a fairy tale.