Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

give, sell, or transfer to another

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading A sudden energy, a renewed sense of strength, flooded him.

-ing form of “evade” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

firmly closed or secured

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

shining unsteadily

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

covered with water

From this reading A sudden energy, a renewed sense of strength, flooded him.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

an established custom

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

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

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

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

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

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

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

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

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

containing an unusual amount of grease or oil

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

a feeling of evil to come

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

the acquisition of something for payment

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

restored to a new condition

From this reading A sudden energy, a renewed sense of strength, flooded him.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

an established line of travel or access

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

with safety; in a safe manner

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

in secrecy; not openly

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

-ing form of “seesaw” — ride on a plank

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading A sudden energy, a renewed sense of strength, flooded him.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

not in physical motion

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading A sudden energy, a renewed sense of strength, flooded him.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading A sudden energy, a renewed sense of strength, flooded him.

carry out

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

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

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

a special situation

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

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

From this reading He cursed the extraordinary chance that, against every probability, had brought the chest of opium safely to him here.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

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

From this reading There was time still: he would take the balls of opium and dispose of them secretly.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

at the time that

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

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

From this reading Its purchase had been the result of habit evading his will, he had despatched it--in that seesawing contest--by a precarious route, half hoping that it would be lost or seized; and, when he had seen the chest carried down Hardy Street to his door, a species of terror had fastened upon him, a premonition of an evil spirit flickering above him in a turning of oily smoke.

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading Why hadn't he pitched the thing into the water at the foot of their yard!