Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

brought into agreement or cooperation on the side of a faction, party, or cause

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

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

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

inflected form of “clap” — put quickly or forcibly

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

past form of “devastate” — cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The signal took instant effect.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

a musician who plays the violin

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

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

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

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

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

a free-reeded instrument with a piano keyboard in which air is forced through the reeds by bellows

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

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

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

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

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading The signal took instant effect.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

and nothing more

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

go away from a place

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

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

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

the force of workers available

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

plural of “musician” — someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

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

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

imparting vitality and energy

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

plural of “saucer” — something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading The signal took instant effect.

full of spirit and vitality

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

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

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

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

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

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

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

filled with great numbers crowded together

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

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

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading The signal took instant effect.

in the direction of

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

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

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

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

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

at the time that

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

in or at the place that

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

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

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

which person or people

From this reading By this time the music had stopped, and the musicians—a fiddler, and the young lady who played the harmonium on Sundays—were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie-dishes and ice-cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Down the side wall facing the window stood a row of kitchen chairs from which the older women had just risen.

plural of “wrap” — cloak that is folded or wrapped around a person

From this reading The guests were preparing to leave, and the tide had already set toward the passage where coats and wraps were hung, when a young man with a sprightly foot and a shock of black hair shot into the middle of the floor and clapped his hands.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading The floor was thronged with girls and young men.