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 chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

later than; following

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

in the past

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

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

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

Having no one else present.

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

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

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

a ghostly appearing figure

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

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

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

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

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

the smallest administrative district of several European countries

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

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

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

divisible by two

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

set up or found

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

a young female

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

the act of departing

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

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

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

and nothing more

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

an intermediate platform in a staircase

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

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 But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

structures collectively in which people are housed

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

changed in form or character

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

reduced to nothingness

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

done or occurring in a brief period of time

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

on the contrary

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

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

From this reading She passed before him like a flash, opened the opposite door, and disappeared.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

meant or adapted for an occasion or use

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

imagine to be the case or true or probable

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading But, rapid as the apparition had been, it had left in Maxence’s mind one of those impressions which are never obliterated.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

be dressed in

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

at the time that

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.

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

From this reading It was chance alone which had brought Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hotel des Folies; and he had not been there a week, before he had fully made up his mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin’s furniture very long.

which person or people

From this reading As he was going out one morning to his office, he met on the very landing a rather tall and very dark girl, who had just come running up stairs.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading He had even already found another and more suitable lodging, when, about a year ago, a certain meeting on the stairs had modified all his views, and lent a charm to his apartment which he did not suspect.