Chapter II

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

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

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

next to; at the side of

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

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

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

completely ordinary and unremarkable

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

intentionally conceived

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true and both cannot be false

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

plural of “demand” — an urgent or peremptory request

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

the totality of surrounding conditions

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

endowed with talent or talents

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

a frame of iron bars to hold a fire

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

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

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

in an impartial manner

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

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

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

the force of workers available

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

plural of “mortal” — a human being

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

a judge of a probate court

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich

From this reading And a prosperous insurance broker.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

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

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

sharp piercing cry

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

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

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Sometimes he sat before the silver fire grate of his sitting-room, amazed at the contradictory evidence of his own genius.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading His environment was the commonplace City of London; his occupation a shrieking incongruity for a spiritual man--he was an insurance broker.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

a vivid mental image

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

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

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Neither by nature crazy, nor by inclination eccentric, Mr. Gordon Selsbury had at moments serious but comfortable doubts as to whether he was not a little abnormal; whether he was not, in fine, one of those rare and gifted mortals to whom was given Vision beyond the ordinary.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Here (said he, thinking impartially) was a man with a Conscious Soul, beside whom other men were clods, vegetables, animals of the field, slaves to their material demands.