Chapter VI

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

From this reading A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS.

possessive form of “agent” — an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

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

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

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

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

any thing at all

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Then he began to cross the city in the direction of Broadway.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS.

a street in Manhattan that passes through Times Square; famous for its theaters

From this reading Then he began to cross the city in the direction of Broadway.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Then he began to cross the city in the direction of Broadway.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

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

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

travel across or pass over

From this reading Then he began to cross the city in the direction of Broadway.

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

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

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading Then he began to cross the city in the direction of Broadway.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

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

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

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

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

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

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

of great significance or value

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

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

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

and nothing more

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

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 When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

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 When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

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

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

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

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

engage in

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

not any; not one

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

only a very short time before

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

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

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he began to cross the city in the direction of Broadway.

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

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

plural of “trial” — the act of testing something

From this reading A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS.

up to a particular time

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

a residential part of town away from the central commercial district

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

close enough to be walked to

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

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

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading He had no desire to sell papers,--indeed, he had no desire to do anything,--and all he did was to walk up the street and keep on walking until he was well uptown.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

at the time that

From this reading When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely knew what he was doing.

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

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.

turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading The conversation which had occurred had been an important one, but his head was in such a whirl that just now he could make little or nothing out of it.