Chapter VII · How the World Dealt by a Gentleman

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

(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 “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

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

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

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

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

for the reason that

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

(of a surface) not written or printed on

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

(used in the plural) the stage of a theater

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

patterned with alternating squares of color

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

the act of closing something

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

something that interests you because it is important or affects you

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

fall or come down violently

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

slightly wet

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

in an impartially dispassionate manner

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

apart from; not including

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

set up or found

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

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

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

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

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

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

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

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

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

a boy or man

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

immediately past

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy; the fetus is said to have dropped

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

the force of workers available

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

become covered with mist

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

a particular point in time

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

not one, and not any

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

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

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

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

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

and nothing more

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

above and across; more than

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

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

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

your consciousness of your own identity

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

inflected form of “slam” — close violently

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

not in physical motion

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

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

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

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

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

having come into contact

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

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

From this reading Hugh sat up and, as if it were another man’s concern, checked it all off dispassionately.

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

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

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

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

From this reading But next moment his hand touched the damp boards of the doorway in which he was crouched and found them real; across the roadway the dim houses, with the mist that comes before day hanging over them, were real; and so was the blank sky.

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

which person or people

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

belonging to which person

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.

in the company of; together with

From this reading “It was all a bad dream,” he said in his thoughts, with a lightening of the heart that made him feel like his old self.

inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading He could get only a broken sleep, because of a door that was always slamming; sometimes men were laughing, too, but the crash of the closing door was louder still, so loud Hugh woke at last.

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

From this reading Then all that had happened last night was true: there was a lad named Hugh Gwyeth, whose father would have none of him, who had not a friend to turn to, nor a penny to his name, nor, except for this cold doorway whither he had crawled, a place to lay his head.