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 It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading One does one’s work first and theorises about it afterwards.

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

later than; following

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading One does one’s work first and theorises about it afterwards.

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

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

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

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

past form of “conceive” — have the idea for

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

intentionally conceived

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

the specified day of the month

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading One does one’s work first and theorises about it afterwards.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading I doubt it very much.

(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

at any time

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

have an existence, be extant

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

the trait of acting stupidly or rashly

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

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

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

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

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

immediately past

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

of or relating to or characteristic of Malaysia

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I doubt it very much.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One does one’s work first and theorises about it afterwards.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

a person who is rejected (from society or home)

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

plural of “quarrel” — an angry dispute

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

past form of “render” — cause to become

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

Identical; not different.

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

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

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

plural of “suggestion” — an idea that is suggested

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading One does one’s work first and theorises about it afterwards.

a special situation

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

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

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

communicated in the form of words

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

precisely as stated

From this reading I doubt it very much.

a vivid mental image

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

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

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

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

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Be it thy course to being giddy minds With foreign quarrels.” --SHAKESPEARE Of the five stories in this volume, “The Lagoon,” the last in order, is the earliest in date.

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

From this reading One does one’s work first and theorises about it afterwards.

the act of creating written works

From this reading Conceived in the same mood which produced “Almayer’s Folly” and “An Outcast of the Islands,” it is told in the same breath (with what was left of it, that is, after the end of “An Outcast”), seen with the same vision, rendered in the same method--if such a thing as method did exist then in my conscious relation to this new adventure of writing for print.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.