Chapter XXVI

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

-ing form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

(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 All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

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

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

react verbally

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But let that pass unheeded.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

feeling or showing worry or solicitude

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

precise; explicit and clearly defined

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

well in the past; former

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

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

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

well known or easily recognized

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

bringing death

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

a boy or man

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

in a fluent manner

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

set up or found

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading But let that pass unheeded.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

engage in

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

an utterance expressing pain or disapproval

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

used to form the superlative

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

not any; not one

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

the action of attacking an enemy

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

go across or through

From this reading But let that pass unheeded.

be a mystery or bewildering to

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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 LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

in or at that place or location

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

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

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

disregarded

From this reading But let that pass unheeded.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

precisely as stated

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

(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 All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading And the second--no less of a puzzle to me--what had I done to give fatal offence?

at the time that

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

in or at the place that

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

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

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

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

From this reading LOVERS MAKE MOAN Now when I had read Sûr Imar's letter, which I hastened to do by the light from the west at the very spot where he had told his tale, there was nothing (at least to a clay-headed fellow) affording definite answer to the questions which concerned me most.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading The first of these was--why on earth had my friends broken up and departed so hastily?

in the company of; together with

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading All Sûr Imar wrote was this, wherein I found that although he spoke our language so well and fluently and with better command of it than I have, he was not quite so familiar with the mysteries of our spelling.