Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

expressing pain or agony

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

(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 It was all very sudden.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria

From this reading Zora rebuked him for futility, and bade him ring the bell for the maid.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading Zora rebuked him for futility, and bade him ring the bell for the maid.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

past form of “consist” — originate

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

an annual award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in television

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

-ing form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result

From this reading Zora rebuked him for futility, and bade him ring the bell for the maid.

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

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

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

From this reading Zora rebuked him for futility, and bade him ring the bell for the maid.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

a female domestic

From this reading Zora rebuked him for futility, and bade him ring the bell for the maid.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

plural of “pencil” — a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

past form of “rebuke” — censure severely or angrily

From this reading Zora rebuked him for futility, and bade him ring the bell for the maid.

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading Zora rebuked him for futility, and bade him ring the bell for the maid.

inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

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

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

-ing form of “sharpen” — make sharp or sharper

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading It was all very sudden.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was all very sudden.

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

From this reading At first he thought Emmy was dead, and rubbed agonized hands together like a fly.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

at the time that

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

in the company of; together with

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Septimus had never seen a woman faint before.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.

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

From this reading When he realized what had happened, he produced a large jack-knife which he always carried in his trousers pocket--for the purpose, he explained, of sharpening pencils--and offered it to Zora with the vague idea that the first aid to fainting women consisted in cutting their stay-laces.