Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

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

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

anew

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

Having no one else present.

From this reading "You are alone, Jacqueline?"

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

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

From this reading "You are alone, Jacqueline?"

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

possessive form of “cartel” — a consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition by controlling the production and distribution of a product or service

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

-ing form of “comprehend” — get the meaning of something

From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty

From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.

caused to show discomposure

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

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

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

an instinctive motive

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

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

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding

From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

on one occasion

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

with speed

From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.

past form of “race” — move hurridly

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

move hurridly

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

done under pressure

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

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

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

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

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

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

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

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

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

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

From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.

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

From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.

at the time that

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

an established custom

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

the words that are spoken

From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You are alone, Jacqueline?"