Chapter XV · Chapter 15

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

a message whose content is at variance with reason

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

anew

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

the lower side of anything

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

surround with a cloister, as of a garden

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

command with authority

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading Durtal exclaimed at last.

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading Durtal exclaimed at last.

become less clearly visible or distinguishable; disappear gradually or seemingly

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

an indirect suggestion

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

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

From this reading "But this is monstrous!"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

immediately past

From this reading Durtal exclaimed at last.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

abnormally large

From this reading "But this is monstrous!"

the next day

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

not one thing; not anything

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

and nothing more

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

not in physical motion

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

rise and move, as in waves or billows

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

in or at that place or location

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

the cognitive condition of someone who understands

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

precisely as stated

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

a message informing of danger

From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?

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

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

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

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.