Chapter I

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

From this reading A damn'd defeat was made.

the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading Of shreds and patches.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

inflected form of “bleed” — lose blood from one's body

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

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

From this reading A damn'd defeat was made.

an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest

From this reading A damn'd defeat was made.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

plural of “forefather” — the founder of a family

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

in a graceful manner

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

a community of people smaller than a village

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

only a very short time before

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

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

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

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

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

not producing an intended effect

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading A damn'd defeat was made.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

not any; not one

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of shreds and patches.

plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something

From this reading Of shreds and patches.

having great power or force or potency or effect

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading Upon whose property...

the property of being close together

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

plural of “shred” — a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

From this reading Of shreds and patches.

a male human offspring

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Upon whose property...

precisely as stated

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

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

From this reading A damn'd defeat was made.

past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

belonging to which person

From this reading Upon whose property...

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more?

in the company of; together with

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

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

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading _Hamlet._ |MY son,” said The Macnamara with an air of grandeur, “my son, you've forgotten what's due”--he pronounced it “jew”--“to yourself, what's due to your father, what's due to your forefathers that bled,” and The Macnamara waved his hand gracefully; then, taking advantage of its proximity to the edge of the table, he made a powerful but ineffectual attempt to pull himself to his feet.