Chapter IV

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

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

perfect or complete or pure

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

anew

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

(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 “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

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

From this reading “No, he’s asleep,” he repeated, and went back to his place.

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

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

in a state of sleep

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “No, he’s asleep,” he repeated, and went back to his place.

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

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading He may, though--” He went to the door.

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

promote over another

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

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

From this reading He may, though--” He went to the door.

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

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

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

From this reading “No, he’s asleep,” he repeated, and went back to his place.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

with unflagging resolve

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

and nothing more

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

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

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading He may, though--” He went to the door.

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

not any; not one

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

by chance

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading “No, he’s asleep,” he repeated, and went back to his place.

past form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

recurring again and again

From this reading “No, he’s asleep,” he repeated, and went back to his place.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

express in words

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

term of address for a man

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

in or at that place or location

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He may, though--” He went to the door.

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

From this reading He may, though--” He went to the door.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

moved around an axis or center

From this reading The fat man turned round--listened-- “No, he’s asleep.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

possessive form of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading He may, though--” He went to the door.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

a Caucasian

From this reading “Well, so what are we to say, Nikolai Eremyitch?” the merchant began again; “we must bring our little business to a conclusion.--Let it be so, Nikolai Eremyitch, let it be so,” he went on, blinking incessantly; “two gray notes and a white for your favor, and there” (he nodded in the direction of the house), “six and a half.

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

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “That’s so, indeed, Nikolai Eremyitch; all is in God’s hands; it’s the absolute truth what you’ve just remarked, sir.--But perhaps your visitor’s awake now?”