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 If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

having companions or an escort

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

how long something has existed

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

(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 required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

-ing form of “beckon” — signal with the hands or nod

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

possessive form of “cashier” — an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

rid of obstructions

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

comparative of “cold” — having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

completely ordinary and unremarkable

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

convert code into ordinary language

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

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

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

thrown into a state of disarray or confusion

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

any strong feeling

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

past form of “except” — take exception to

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

possessive form of “executioner” — an official who inflicts capital punishment in pursuit of a warrant

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

opinion or judgment

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

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

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

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

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

third-person singular of “frighten” — cause fear in

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

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

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

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

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

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

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

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

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

and nothing more

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

friendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

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

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

a platform from which criminals are executed (hanged or beheaded)

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

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

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

having a supporting base

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

not in physical motion

From this reading If he is still capable of some emotion, he is a good man.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

grievously affected especially by disease

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

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

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

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

From this reading And beckoning to the agents who accompanied him to stop at the door,--“Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he inquired.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

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

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

which person or people

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The cashier’s guests, M. Desormeaux excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading He required but a single glance of his small but clear eyes to decipher the physiognomies of all these worthy people standing around the disordered table.

but in spite of that

From this reading The one who had just walked into M. Favoral’s apartment was already past middle age, colder than ice, and yet kindly, but of that commonplace kindliness which frightens like the executioner’s politeness at the scaffold.