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 The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

(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 The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

exhale hard

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

in an experimental fashion

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

so thin as to transmit light

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

-ing form of “knead” — make uniform

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

occurring by chance

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

not any; not one

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

with low volume

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

possessive form of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

move back and forth or sideways

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

in or at that place or location

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

On the present night.

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

a collarless men's undergarment for the upper part of the body

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

changed to a yellowish color by age

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

but in spite of that

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.