Chapter IV

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “Busy,” he answered mechanically, and was turning back to his work.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “Busy,” he answered mechanically, and was turning back to his work.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading “Busy,” he answered mechanically, and was turning back to his work.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

not characterized by emotion

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

causing dejection

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

accept an excuse for

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

a man of refinement

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

a polite name for any woman

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

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 (Long pause.) “Relative.”

a female domestic

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism

From this reading “Busy,” he answered mechanically, and was turning back to his work.

a form of address for a man

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Oh!”

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

From this reading (Long pause.) “Relative.”

possession of controlling influence

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

a person related by blood or marriage

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

term of address for a man

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading “Busy,” he answered mechanically, and was turning back to his work.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

at the time that

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

in the company of; together with

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading “Busy,” he answered mechanically, and was turning back to his work.

room where work is done

From this reading One late April afternoon—a chilly dismal day it had been, with a drizzle of rain—the maid knocked at his workroom door, and when he’d shut down the power on the drill he was using, she told him a lady and gentleman were at the door asking to see him, and they didn’t give any name.

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

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Excuse me sir, but the gentleman said, though you wouldn’t know him, he’s a near relative of old Mr. Cripps as used to live here.”