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 is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

(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 “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

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

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

accomplishment of an objective

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

the cognitive process that leads to convictions

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

plural of “butcher” — a retailer of meat

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

a retail store that sells equipment and provisions (usually to military personnel)

From this reading But in vain did the commissary search all the drawers.

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

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

From this reading But in vain did the commissary search all the drawers.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

underpants worn by men

From this reading But in vain did the commissary search all the drawers.

in or to another place

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

set up or found

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

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

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

plural of “grocer” — a retail merchant who sells foodstuffs (and some household supplies)

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

past form of “growl” — to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

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

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

discontinued temporarily

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

the literary culture

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

someone who makes or repairs locks

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

title used for a married Frenchwoman

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

not any; not one

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

and nothing more

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

excessively unwilling to spend

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

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

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

plural of “relic” — an antiquity that has survived from the distant past

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading But in vain did the commissary search all the drawers.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

express in words

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

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

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

a special situation

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

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

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

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

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

in the direction of

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading But in vain did the commissary search all the drawers.

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

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

From this reading “It is a waste of time to look for any thing here,” he growled.

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

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

which person or people

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

a late time of life

From this reading He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith,--uninteresting letters, grocers’ and butchers’ bills running back twenty years.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was.”

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading “Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere--” He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.