Chapter VI

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

anew

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

(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 WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

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

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

chair with a support on each side for arms

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

next to; at the side of

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

the act of burning something

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

a bottle with a stopper; for serving wine or water

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

greatly pleasing or entertaining

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

lower than previously

From this reading How that man depressed me.

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

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

opinion or judgment

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

start firing a weapon

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

a farewell remark

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

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

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

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

From this reading How that man depressed me.

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

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

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

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

a room where books are kept

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

provided with artificial light

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading How that man depressed me.

shelf that projects from wall above fireplace

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

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

From this reading How that man depressed me.

used to form the superlative

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

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

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

above and across; more than

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

cause to run

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

express in words

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

reflecting light

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

a particular situation

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

a small drink

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

be seated

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

having a supporting base

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading How that man depressed me.

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

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

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

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

as much as a thimble will hold

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

plural of “tip” — the extreme end of something; especially something pointed

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

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

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

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

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

look attentively

From this reading That was a pleasant sight to have to sit and watch, but I didn't much care.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

possessive form of “wilder” — United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)

From this reading I sat in an armchair looking at my rings and the tips of my beautiful new shoes; it was so delightful to have all these things again; and sometimes I would look at Wilder's rounded back and his shiny old coat, thinking how funny it was that he had given me all these things.

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading WE SAY GOOD-BYE All the next day I spent in the house, most of the time in the room with Wilder.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading A great fire was lit in the library, and he sat over it with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the burning coals; the decanter of opium was standing on the mantelpiece, a wine glass beside it, and every now and then he would pour himself out a thimbleful and sip it.