Chapter XVIII · The Dead Chinaman

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

From this reading The smile changed to a sigh as her thoughts went backward.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

(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 It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

at or to or toward the back or rear

From this reading The smile changed to a sigh as her thoughts went backward.

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

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

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

without regard to specific details or exceptions

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading The smile changed to a sigh as her thoughts went backward.

-ing form of “click” — move or strike with a noise

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

dearly loved

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

greatly pleasing or entertaining

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

sleep in a convenient place

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

divisible by two

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

at any time

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

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

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

repetitive and persistent

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

immediately past

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

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 “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

past form of “maul” — split (wood) with a maul and wedges

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

used to form the superlative

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

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

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

a disease of poultry

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading The smile changed to a sigh as her thoughts went backward.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The smile changed to a sigh as her thoughts went backward.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

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

From this reading It all seemed so far away now, but she remembered every minute of the day; how Pip had been so badly mauled, how her disappointment at not being able to have the key of her mother’s box had made her miserable, then how the stranger had come to collapse on the doorstep.

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

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The smile changed to a sigh as her thoughts went backward.

past form of “tick” — make a clicking or ticking sound

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

precisely as stated

From this reading The old life had been very lonely and narrow; it was delightful to think how things had changed for her since then.

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

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The smile changed to a sigh as her thoughts went backward.

at the time that

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Nell smiled broadly to herself, as the clicking insistent little machine ticked out Gertrude’s message of birthday wishes, and she thought of last year, when Doss Umpey had even forgotten it was her birthday.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “MANY happy returns of the day, dear; may it be the most delightful birthday you have ever spent.”