Chapter IV

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

a feeling of delighted approval and liking

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

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

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

in bodily form

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

formal or perfunctory politeness

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

doubt about someone's honesty

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

divisible by two

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

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

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

stimulating or exalting to the spirit

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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 It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

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

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading His great bodily strength had enabled him to insist on a certain civility even from his enemies.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

precisely as stated

From this reading Contempt was a sentiment he was not accustomed to inspiring, and it sat very ill upon him.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

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

From this reading It was a long time since Vickers had spent a sleepless night--a night, that is, on which he had designed to slumber,--but now, in the little mahogany bed something too short for him, he tossed all night.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Fear, dislike, and even distrust he had had occasion to deal with, but contempt he had never, to his knowledge, had to brook.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading His good looks and his ready tongue had gained him an easy sort of admiration from women.