Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

consisting of segments held together by joints

From this reading The caretaker's cry changed to articulated speech.

at right angles to the center line of a ship

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

a projectile that is fired from a gun

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

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

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

a finely woven white linen

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

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

From this reading The caretaker's cry changed to articulated speech.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading The caretaker's cry changed to articulated speech.

past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

the organ of sight

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

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

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

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

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

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

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

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

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

the head of a city government

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

the force of workers available

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

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

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

paying close attention especially to details

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

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

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

above and across; more than

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

possessive form of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading The caretaker's cry changed to articulated speech.

plural of “stain” — a soiled or discolored appearance

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

not in physical motion

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

moving very fast

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

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

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

push forcefully

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

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

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading THE CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEF Bunning knew the Mayor was dead before that cry of surprise had passed his lips.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.

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

From this reading And the old soldier's observant eye had seen more than that--over the litter of documents which lay around the still figure were great crimson stains.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading In his time he had seen many dead men--sometimes it was a bullet, sometimes a bayonet; he knew the signs of what follows on the swift passage of one and the sharp thrust of the other.

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

From this reading In his first glance into the room he had been quick to notice the limp hand hanging across the edge of the desk, the way in which Wallingford's head lay athwart the mass of papers over which he had collapsed in falling forward from his chair--that meant death.