Chapter VIII · The Devil’s Cauldron

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

any specific behavior

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

in addition

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

become active

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

a procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

without doubt or question

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

feeling or showing worry or solicitude

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

of benefit to or intended to benefit your physical makeup

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

according to the constitution

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

an imperfection in a bodily system

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

plural of “fault” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

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

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

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

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

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

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

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

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

not in action or at work

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

showing curiosity

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

inactivity resulting from a dislike of work

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

moving slowly and gently

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

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 Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

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

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

not any; not one

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

a person who owns something

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

offensive inquisitiveness

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

past form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

something that follows something else

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

in a serious manner

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Here his other constitutional defect came in, and set him prying into matters which in no way seriously concerned him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

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

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.

not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading The first fault my reader has, no doubt, already guessed--he was constitutionally lazy.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The second fault will appear more clearly in the sequel: he was, also, constitutionally inquisitive.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

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

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired

From this reading Now, his laziness was of that not uncommon kind which is capable of a great deal of activity, so long as that activity is unconscious, and not realized as being in the nature of _work_; and its possessor, therefore, would frequently, in his idle way, bestir himself a good deal; whereas, if he had been ordered to bestir himself, he would have yawned and resisted.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading It so happened that the young man of the caravan had two considerable faults.