Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

called to public attention

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

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

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

plural of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

taking care or paying attention

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

(of hair) having curls or waves

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

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

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

raised above the ground

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

inflected form of “emit” — expel (gases or odors)

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

cranial nerve that supplies facial muscles

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

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

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

the act of retaining something

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

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

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

provided with artificial light

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

plural of “mattress” — a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

the force of workers available

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

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

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

completely unclothed

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

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

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

a judge of a probate court

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

by chance

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

-ing form of “possess” — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

established beyond doubt

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

similarity in appearance or external or superficial details

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

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

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

make square

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

passing or having passed from the solid to the gaseous state (or vice versa) without becoming liquid

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

to a sufficient degree

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

push forcefully

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

not embarrassed

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

the condition of being untidy

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

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

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

void of intelligence or thought

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips

From this reading Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Easels and artists' materials thrust back to the wall sufficiently advertised the art student, and perhaps explained the untidiness.

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

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

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

superlative of “wild” — marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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 Two of the occupants of the room, curled up on elevated window ledges, were emitting clouds of tobacco smoke and nursing their knees; the other two, naked to the waist, sat on a couple of ordinary bedroom mattresses deposited carefully in the vacant centre of the apartment.

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

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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 In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The sitting room was large and square, and in the wildest disorder, which was, however, sublimated into a certain system by an illuminated device to the effect that one should "Have a Place for Everything, and then there'll be one Place you won't have to look."

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

From this reading They were eager, alert-looking young men, well-muscled, curly of hair, and possessing in common an unabashed carriage of the head which, more plainly than any mere facial resemblance, proved them brothers.

plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading In a fifth-story sitting room of a New York boarding house four youths were holding a discussion.