Chapter XXIV

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

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

(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 For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

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

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

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

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

any thing at all

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

from appearances alone

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

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

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

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

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading The rose tints were in the atmosphere as well as the sky.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

recognizable; marked

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

plural of “decision” — the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

the act of departing

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

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

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

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

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

provided with artificial light

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

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

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

not any; not one

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

and nothing more

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

above and across; more than

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading The rose tints were in the atmosphere as well as the sky.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

superlative of “soft” — yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

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

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

the act of taking something from someone unlawfully

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

not in physical motion

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

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

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

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

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

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

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

plural of “tint” — a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

From this reading The rose tints were in the atmosphere as well as the sky.

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

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

close enough to be walked to

From this reading There was a stream of other people going home, some of them walking too, as it was so lovely an evening.

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

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The rose tints were in the atmosphere as well as the sky.

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

From this reading The rose tints were in the atmosphere as well as the sky.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

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

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading For what reason?--for no reason at all, so far as she was aware; only, apparently without knowing it, to help out the decisions of fate.

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

From this reading Mrs. Hayward decided that she would walk home.

but in spite of that

From this reading The air was the softest balm of summer, cool, the sun going down, soft shadows stealing over the sky, the river still lit with magical reflections--those reflections which are nothing, such stuff as dreams are made of, and yet more beautiful than anything in earth or heaven.