Chapter X · Chapter 10

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

in actual fact

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

(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 It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

Having no one else present.

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

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

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

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

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

anemic looking from illness or emotion

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

show off

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

a cruelly rapacious person

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

seemingly without interruption

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

(often used ironically) worthy of being treated in a particular way

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

having the place or position changed

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

divisible by two

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

shockingly repellent; inspiring horror

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

become hard or harder

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

lacking in or deprived of strength or power

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

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

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

devoid of feeling and consciousness and animation

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

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 The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

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

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

the force of workers available

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

an uneasy psychological state

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

by chance

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

make steady progress; be at the high point in one's career or reach a high point in historical significance or importance

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

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

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

not in physical motion

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The motion of those fingers groping for life had continually disturbed him.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

unbearable physical pain

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.

enter upon an activity or enterprise

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

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

From this reading PROSPER COMES TO A DECISION Perhaps, in spite of his gruesome boast as to dead men, it was as much to satisfy his own spirit as to comfort Joan's that Prosper actually did undertake a journey to the cabin that had belonged to Pierre.

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

From this reading Prosper went back expecting to find a dead man, went back as a murderer visits the scene of his crime.

people who are wounded

From this reading The man, to Prosper's mind, was an insensate brute, deserving of death, even of torment, most deserving of Joan's desertion, nevertheless, it was not easy to harden his nerves against the picture of a man left, wounded and helpless, to die slowly alone.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading It was true that Prosper had never been able to stop thinking, not so much of the tall, slim youth lying so still across the floor, all his beauty and strength turned to an ashen slackness, as of a brown hand that stirred.