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 Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

next to; at the side of

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.

the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

a digital tape recording of sound

From this reading "And how did you come to know dat music?"

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.

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

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

putting a condemned person to death

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

(informal) small and of little importance

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.

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

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading "And how did you come to know dat music?"

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Joost paused, and the stranger did likewise.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading "And how did you come to know dat music?"

in like or similar manner

From this reading Joost paused, and the stranger did likewise.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading "And how did you come to know dat music?"

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The other smiled.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading Joost paused, and the stranger did likewise.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The other smiled.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

up to a particular time

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

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

From this reading Not until then did he observe that a tall, thin stranger stood beside him; and that he was fiddling too,--composing a second to Joost's air, as if he could read his thought before he put it into execution on the strings.

in or at the place that

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Where de debble did you come frum?" asked the first.