Chapter XXI

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

anew

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

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

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

take a court case to a higher court for review

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

-ing form of “bask” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

have

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

past form of “blink” — briefly shut the eyes

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

in a bad mood

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

an occurrence of something

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

put or send forth

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

having been prepared for eating by the application of heat

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

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

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

the state or fact of existing

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

the act of departing

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

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

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

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

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

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

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

a health facility where patients receive treatment

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

plural of “kitchen” — a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

past form of “lecture” — deliver a lecture or talk

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

structures collectively in which people are housed

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

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

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

plural of “nurse” — one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

above and across; more than

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

on the contrary

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

relieve from

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

a person, without saying who

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

someone who is starving (or being starved)

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

the rays of the sun

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

plural of “symptom” — (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading Exactly how he had lived during the winter he did not know; it had been a matter of crouching over fires in mean kitchens of lodging houses--sometimes cooking poor food for himself, and sometimes begging it, already cooked, from others; a mean, scraping, starveling existence, going on from day to day.

a source of difficulty

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

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

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

imparting heat

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

the sensation caused by heat energy

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

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

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.

in or at the place that

From this reading Some part of it had been spent in an infirmary, where he had given much trouble, and had lectured the doctors and nurses cantankerously about his own case and his own symptoms; they had been rather glad to get rid of him.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Now, with the sun warming his veins, and putting some strength into his shrunken limbs, he cast about in his mind for someone to whom he could appeal.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading THE LONG NIGHT Much in the fashion of a bear that has hibernated through a long winter, and has come out lean and hungry into the warmth and brightness of the new summer--so Anthony Ditchburn crawled out of his mean lodging one sunny morning, and looked about him.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was a frowsy, unwholesome-looking bear at the best, and he blinked at the sunshine, basking a little in it with some faint show of pleasure, and facing life again with some show of hope.