Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

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

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

with no effort to conceal

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

completely unclothed

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

without regard to specific details or exceptions

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

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

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

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

From this reading “I wish you'd quit that, Cynthy.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

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

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

the outside boundary or surface of something

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

diffusing warmth and friendliness

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

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

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

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

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

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

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

plural of “hip” — either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

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

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

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

From this reading “I wish you'd quit that, Cynthy.

past form of “impinge” — impinge or infringe upon

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

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

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

plural of “joint” — (anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion)

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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 She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

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

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

the leaf of a conifer

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

and nothing more

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

inflected form of “overlap” — coincide partially or wholly

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

compacted by ironing

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading “I wish you'd quit that, Cynthy.

except for; apart from

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

requiring sitting or little activity

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

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

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

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

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

a person who makes or repairs shoes

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

do one's shopping

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

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

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

make square

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

an extreme state of worry and agitation

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

inflected form of “supply” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

a quantity much larger than is needed

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

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

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

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

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

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

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

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

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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

From this reading She was tall, gaunt, and thin-so thin, in fact, that her fingers, pricked by her needle and gnarled at the joints, had a hold in energy only, as she pressed them down on her contourless hips.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

belonging to which person

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading |FROM the window of her husband's shop in the mountain-village of Grayson, Cynthia Tye stood peering out on the Square.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading “I wish you'd quit that, Cynthy.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Silas, whose sedentary occupation had supplied him with the surplus flesh his wife needed, and whose genial pate was as bald as an egg, save for a bare fringe of gray which overlapped his ears on the sides and impinged upon his shirt-collar behind, looked up and smiled broadly.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading She had left her work in the living-room and kitchen back of the shop and come in to question the shoemaker as to what he wanted for his dinner, the boiling and stewing hour having arrived.

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

From this reading “I wish you'd quit that, Cynthy.