Chapter I

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

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

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

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

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

a line of approach

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

(informal) very unpleasant

From this reading “Beastly night!”

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

plural of “boulevard” — a wide street or thoroughfare

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

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

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

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

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

possessive form of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

having gaps or spaces

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

past form of “debate” — argue with one another

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

assemble or get together

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

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

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

foreshadow or presage

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

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

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

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

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

darkened by clouds

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

in an uncontrolled manner

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

(chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

a form of address for a man

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading “Beastly night!”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

above and across; more than

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

past form of “pour” — cause to run

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

with speed

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

make short successive sounds

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

move upward

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

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

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

coming next after the sixth and just before the eighth in position

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow)

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

possessing sweep

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

carry out

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

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

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

a wheeled vehicle that runs on rails and is propelled by electricity

From this reading In the business district they swung signs madly back and forth, and roared around the corners of high office buildings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

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

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

plural of “windowpane” — a pane of glass in a window

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow, the first herald of the winter to come.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They poured through the man-made cañons; they dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed and debated whether to rise and lower the window or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temperature.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading CHELSEA HOUSE 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City Winds whistled up the river, and winds whistled down from the hills, and they met to swirl and gather fury and rattle the city’s millions of windowpanes.