Chapter V

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

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

happiness felt in a secure relationship

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

put or send forth

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

the first light of day

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

a social unit living together

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

at a previous time

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

plural of “gesture” — motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

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

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

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

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

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

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

immediately past

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

not any; not one

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

a brief written record

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

joining or attaching by stitches

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

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

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

impressive in appearance

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

not in physical motion

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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 She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

in or at that place or location

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It had been a stately mansion in its time, belonging to the estate of a good old Knickerbocker family, which was quite run out now.

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

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

plural of “use” — the act of using

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

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

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

precisely as stated

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

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

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Not with such neighbors had Mrs. Vanderheyden’s lot been formerly cast, nor for such uses as this had the old house itself been designed.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading She had been a beautiful, high-bred woman; indeed, she was so still, though there was no one to note the unconscious elegance of her gestures or the graceful lines of her curving figure and bent head.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading She herself was sewing, catching the last glint of the sunset light for her work, as she had the first ray of the dawning.

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

From this reading She was very thin now, and very poorly clad, but a stranger would have felt that she was a lady, and wondered how she came in the fourth story of this house,--a great house, which had been handsome, too, in its day, but which was now let out to innumerable lodgers, mostly of the decent sort of honest, hard-working, half-starved poor people.