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 Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

how long something has existed

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

(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 the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

movement that causes the formation of a curve

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

a youthful male person

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

a street in Manhattan that passes through Times Square; famous for its theaters

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

entailing great loss or sacrifice

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading “Isaac is still at work,” he cried.

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

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

in deplorable condition

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

plural of “dinner” — the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

put on clothes

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

the quality of exceeding the appropriate limits of decorum or probability or truth

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

coming next after the fourteenth and just before the sixteenth in position

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

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

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

having an easygoing and cheerful disposition

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

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

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

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

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

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

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

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

From this reading “Isaac is still at work,” he cried.

(Old Testament) the second patriarch; son of Abraham and Sarah who was offered by Abraham as a sacrifice to God; father of Jacob and Esau

From this reading “Isaac is still at work,” he cried.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

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

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

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

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

above and across; more than

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

large scissors with strong blades

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

do one's shopping

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

explained or answered

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

wearing, or having the face adorned with, eyeglasses or an eyeglass

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

sit on one's heels

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

not in physical motion

From this reading “Isaac is still at work,” he cried.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

a speech of violent denunciation

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

up to a particular time

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Here a flood of gas light from inside a shop in the basement brought into view the figure of a short, squat, spectacled little man bending over a cutting-table, a pair of shears in his hand.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

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

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

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

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

which person or people

From this reading Now there's a man who has solved the problem, my boy.

in the company of; together with

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading All the way up Broadway he kept up his good-natured tirade, railing at the extravagance of the age, at the costly dinners, equipages, dress of the women, until we reached the foot of the dilapidated flight of brown-stone steps leading to the front door of his home on Fifteenth Street.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading “If we were not so late we'd go in and have a word with him.

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

From this reading “Isaac is still at work,” he cried.