Chapter VIII

(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 I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

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

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

any person at all

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

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

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

open to doubt or suspicion

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

divisible by two

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

at any time

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

communicated in words

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

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

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

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

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

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

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

for more time

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

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

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

a message that seems to convey no meaning

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

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

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

above and across; more than

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

by chance

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

To recall to mind.

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

express a supposition

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

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

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

precisely as stated

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

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

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Of course I cannot remember now what I said: I can remember the sense of it, or the nonsense, possibly, but not how I expressed it.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.

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

From this reading Very badly, I suppose, for I tore my first attempt up, and began another, over which I must have spent an even longer time, since, to finish it, I was obliged to get up and light the lamp.

produce a literary work

From this reading I stayed in the house all the evening, but I could not read, and so I sat down to write to Katherine.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading It was the first time in my life I had ever written to anybody.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading I wrote for more than an hour, though I was very doubtful whether, in the end, I should post my letter.