Chapter VII

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

From this reading How long a day can be!

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

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

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

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

react verbally

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

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

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

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

From this reading How long a day can be!

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading How long a day can be!

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading How long a day can be!

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

a young female

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

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

From this reading How long a day can be!

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

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

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

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

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

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

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

From this reading How long a little time can be!

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading How long a day can be!

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

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

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

on one occasion

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

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

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

a mental impression retained and recalled from the past

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

cut with a saw

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

the act of closing something

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

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

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading How long a little time can be!

plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

create by training and teaching

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

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

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

at the time that

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Once I saw a woman—not Laura—grow old between a question and an answer—between the opening and the shutting of a door.

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

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.

a late time of life

From this reading An hour or less—so much less than an hour—how it can lie in one’s memory like an interminable road, when pleasant years are more forgotten than towns passed in the train.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Laura, at ten or twelve, would usher in a reminiscence with “When I was a little girl,” and look bewildered if you laughed.