Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

a public promotion of some product or service

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

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

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

a former province of northwestern France on a peninsula between the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She was wonderful--but human.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

a person considered as descended from some ancestor

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

a person responsible for the administration of a business

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

the act of pausing uncertainly

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

a social unit living together

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

easily broken or damaged or destroyed

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

the father of your father or mother

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

past form of “guarantee” — give surety or assume responsibility

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading She was wonderful--but human.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

harmed

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

feeling or showing love and affection

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

engage in

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

plural of “mattress” — a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

the force of workers available

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

a privileged class holding hereditary titles

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

on one occasion

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

with speed

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

Identical; not different.

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading She was wonderful--but human.

the state of being asleep

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

carry out

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

past form of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

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

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

precisely as stated

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading She was wonderful--but human.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

which person or people

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

belonging to which person

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

in the company of; together with

From this reading My grandfather, a descendant of the French nobility whose family had ridden the tumbrils of the Revolution, tended her fragile body and spirit with the same loving care given rare, brief-blooming flowers.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading My mother was a lovely, delicate woman from the coast of Brittany, who was miserable sleeping on less than three mattresses, and who, it is said, was once injured by a falling leaf in her garden.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading She was wonderful--but human.

plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Here is an off-trail story that is guaranteed to make some of you take a very searching second look at some of the young men you know._ He wondered if I'd told her everything, and, faltering, I had to admit that I hadn't.

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

From this reading _Henry Slesar, as we have said before, is a young advertising executive who has rapidly become one of the better known writers in the field.