Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance

From this reading The MS. gave evidence of nervous agitation.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

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

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

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

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

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

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

in bodily form

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

a desirable state

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

the childhood of a boy

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

(of time) having passed or slipped by

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading The MS. gave evidence of nervous agitation.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The MS. gave evidence of nervous agitation.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

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

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

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

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

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

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

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

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

expressing persistant and earnest entreaty

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

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

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

immediately past

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

in the recent past

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

any unwholesome or desperate condition

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers

From this reading The MS. gave evidence of nervous agitation.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

easily agitated

From this reading The MS. gave evidence of nervous agitation.

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

not any; not one

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

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

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

and nothing more

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

burdened psychologically or mentally

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

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

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

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

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

a temporary stay (e.g., as a guest)

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

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

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

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

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

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

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks.

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

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree

From this reading A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady.

a late time of life

From this reading Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.