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 You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

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

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

any thing at all

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

the lower side of anything

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

a fractional monetary unit of several countries: France and Algeria and Belgium and Burkina Faso and Burundi and Cameroon and Chad and the Congo and Gabon and Haiti and the Ivory Coast and Luxembourg and Mali and Morocco and Niger and Rwanda and Senegal and Switzerland and Togo

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading The trick is done, the public is sold.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

divisible by two

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

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

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading They go in.

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

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

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

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

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

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

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

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

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

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

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

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

a person who brings order and organization to an enterprise

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading The trick is done, the public is sold.

plural of “puff” — a short light gust of air

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

get something; come into possession of

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading The trick is done, the public is sold.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

hang freely

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

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

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They go in.

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

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

superlative of “tight” — closely constrained or constricted or constricting

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

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

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading The trick is done, the public is sold.

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

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

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

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Walk in, follow the crowd, step up to the office: this is the time.’

belonging to which person

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

a fabric made from the hair of sheep

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You receive mountains of twenty-cent-pieces: you never return anything, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even a centime.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You drive your own carriage; you suspend diamonds to your mistress’ ears; and I, the organizer of success, whose puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and start up the old louis from the bottom of the old woolen stocking,--I am driven to have my boots half-soled.