Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

Having no one else present.

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading She did not stir, and she answered slowly, softly, in the voice of one who slept, "Tell it."

for the reason that

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

(of a surface) not written or printed on

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

at any time

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

have an existence, be extant

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

something acquired without compensation

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

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

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

possessive form of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

the force of workers available

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

secure in or as if in a berth or dock

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

plural of “moth” — typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

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

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

be seated

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading She did not stir, and she answered slowly, softly, in the voice of one who slept, "Tell it."

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

with low volume

From this reading She did not stir, and she answered slowly, softly, in the voice of one who slept, "Tell it."

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

move an implement through

From this reading She did not stir, and she answered slowly, softly, in the voice of one who slept, "Tell it."

plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

in a swift manner

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

express in words

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

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

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

-ing form of “transform” — subject to a mathematical transformation

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading She did not stir, and she answered slowly, softly, in the voice of one who slept, "Tell it."

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

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

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

look attentively

From this reading It was good to sit and see the sky slowly losing colour and watch the moths flit out, and though neither he nor she was much given to speech, each knew that the other was content.

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

at the time that

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.

which person or people

From this reading She did not stir, and she answered slowly, softly, in the voice of one who slept, "Tell it."

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

but in spite of that

From this reading There were blank days when Helen failed him because she thought Mildred Caniper was lonely, others when she ran out for a word and swiftly left him to the memory of her grace and her transforming smile; yet oftenest, she was waiting for him in the little hollow of earth, and those hours were the best he had ever known.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Helen," he said one night in late September when they were left alone, "I want to tell you something."

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

From this reading Zebedee had the lover's gift of finding time which did not exist for other men, and there were few Sundays when he did not spend some minutes or some hours on the moor.