Chapter XXXV · An Unexpected Blow

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

From this reading He had made the young clubman a laughingstock more than once.

(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 He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

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

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

next to; at the side of

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading Well, Verbeck had not captured him, he thought.

past form of “circle” — travel around something

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

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

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

divisible by two

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

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

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

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

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

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

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

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

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

a victim of ridicule or pranks

From this reading He had made the young clubman a laughingstock more than once.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He had made the young clubman a laughingstock more than once.

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

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

a person whose material wealth is valued at more than a million dollars

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had made the young clubman a laughingstock more than once.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

on one occasion

From this reading He had made the young clubman a laughingstock more than once.

above and across; more than

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

the force of policemen and officers

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

past form of “scoff” — laugh at with contempt and derision

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

bound by or as if by an oath

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

past form of “terrorize” — coerce by violence or with threats

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He had made the young clubman a laughingstock more than once.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading Well, Verbeck had not captured him, he thought.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading The Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of three thousand feet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river.

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

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

(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, Verbeck had not captured him, he thought.

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

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

in or at the place that

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

which person or people

From this reading He gave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at the man who sat beside him.

belonging to which person

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Far below were the lights of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months, the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the home of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn to capture him.