Chapter I

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

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

-ing form of “adorn” — make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

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

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

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

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

past form of “angulate” — make or become angular

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

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

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

a youthful male person

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

in an attractive manner

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

lively and spirited

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

a reduction in the gross amount on which a tax is calculated; reduces taxes by the percentage fixed for the taxpayer's income bracket

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

come together

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

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

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

an item of information that is typical of a class or group

From this reading As for example.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

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

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

-ing form of “honk” — make a loud noise

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

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

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

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

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

plural of “label” — a brief description given for purposes of identification

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

the literary culture

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

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

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

cases used to carry belongings when traveling

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

a detailed and documented treatise on a particular subject

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

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

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

a form of address for a man

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

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

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

reduced to nothingness

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

a workman who pastes

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

a parallelogram with four equal sides; an oblique-angled equilateral parallelogram

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

express in words

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)

From this reading For one can learn a great deal from a careful scrutiny of, say, a suitcase or kit bag.

someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes

From this reading Each boy carried a suitcase, and each suitcase held, amongst the more or less obliterated labels adorning it, a lozenge-shaped paster of gray paper, bearing, in scarlet, the letters “G. S.,” cunningly angulated to fit the space of the rhombus.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

plural of “taxicab” — a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

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

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

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

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

a formal exposition

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.

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

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

produce a literary work

From this reading If I were Mr. Sherlock Holmes I should write, as a companion work to the famous monograph on tobacco ashes, a Treatise on the Deduction of Evidence from Hand Luggage.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading A CHANCE ENCOUNTER Two boys alighted from a surface car in front of the big Terminal in New York and dodged their way between dashing taxicabs, honking motor cars and plunging horses to the safety of the broad sidewalk.