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 I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

equally

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

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

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

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

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

possessive form of “arm” — a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

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

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

make more cheerful through the use of color

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

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

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

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

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

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

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

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

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

not admitting of penetration or passage into or through

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

in an imperative and commanding manner

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

immediately past

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

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

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

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

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

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

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

in motion

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

show approval or appreciation of

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

up to a particular time

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.

precisely as stated

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

a person given to fanciful speculations and enthusiasms with little regard for what is actually possible

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

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

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength

From this reading Author Of ‘Aunt Rachel,’ ‘The Weaker Vessel,’ Etc.

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

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

at the time that

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

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

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

which person or people

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The man and the axe were alike visionary and unreal, though it needed a very considerable effort of the will to hold them at mental arm’s length.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I was expatriated by a man with an axe.

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

From this reading I had work on hand which imperatively demanded to be finished, and I was so broken down by a long course of labour that it was a matter of actual difficulty with me when I sat down at my desk of a morning to lay hold of the thread of last night’s work, and to recall the personages who had moved through my manuscript pages for the past three or four months.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The day’s work always began with a fog, which at first looked impenetrable, but would brighten little by little until I could see my ideal friends moving in it, and could recognise their familiar lineaments.