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 A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

later than; following

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

for the reason that

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

a youthful male person

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading I had no brothers or sisters.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

carefully weighed

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

past form of “consist” — originate

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

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

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

the state or fact of existing

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

a social unit living together

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

being ten more than thirty

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

usually; as a rule

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

of the present time and place

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

of great significance or value

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

the act of departing

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

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 My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

used to form the superlative

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

not any; not one

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I had no brothers or sisters.

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

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

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

make a logical or causal connection

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

a person who represents others

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading I had no brothers or sisters.

the underside of footwear or a golf club

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

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

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

in the near future

From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

at the time that

From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.

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

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.

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

From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.