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 It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

anew

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

(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 told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

in addition

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

an army unit usually consisting of a headquarters and three or more companies

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

money in the form of bills or coins

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

the job of clerk

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

(of solid matter) reduced to a liquid form

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

take in liquids

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

earlier in time; previously

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

gained or acquired; especially through merit or as a result of effort or action

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

take in solid food

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

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

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

plural of “franc” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 centimes

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

the act of departing

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

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

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

only a very short time before

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

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

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

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

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

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

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

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

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

ten 10s

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

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

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

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 He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

engage in

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

used to form the superlative

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

absolutely essential

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

information about recent and important events

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

a city on the Loire river in north central France; site of the siege of Orleans by the English (1428-1429)

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

cut with a saw

From this reading For M. Favoral saw and heard nothing that was going on around him.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

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

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

not expected or anticipated

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

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

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

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

From this reading It was through M. Chapelain, the Desclavettes, and old Desormeaux, that these news reached the Rue St. Gilles.

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

From this reading He told all his friends that business was looking up again in the most unexpected manner; that there were fortunes to be made by those who could command ready cash; and that it was necessary to make up for lost time.

in or at the place that

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

which person or people

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.

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

From this reading He was wholly absorbed in his business: he left earlier, came home later, and hardly allowed himself time to eat and drink.

belonging to which person

From this reading It was also through Maxence, whose battalion had been dissolved, and who, whilst waiting for something better, had accepted a clerkship in the office of the Orleans Railway, where he earned two hundred francs a month.