Chapter I

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

later than; following

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

the first light of day

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

offering little or no hope

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

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

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

not characterized by emotion

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

a space into which an area is subdivided

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

sleep lightly or for a short period of time

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading Stereotyped Edition.

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

a revue with elaborate costuming

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

having no definite form or distinct shape

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

-ing form of “hate” — dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

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

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

in a dishonorable manner or to a dishonorable degree

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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 There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

a form of address for a man

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

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

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

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

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

deeply or seriously thoughtful

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

not used up

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

of inferior status or quality

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

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

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

lacking spontaneity or originality or individuality

From this reading Stereotyped Edition.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

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

From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,’ ‘AURORA FLOYD,’ ETC.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

create by training and teaching

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

Risen from sleep; conscious.

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

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

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

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

From this reading There were not many people in the train on that bleak night, and Mr. Treverton had a second-class compartment to himself.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He had tried to sleep, but had failed ignominiously in the endeavour, waking with a start, after five minutes’ doze, and remaining broad awake for an hour at a time pondering upon the perplexities of his life, and hating himself for the follies that had made it what it was.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The air was thick with falling snow, and the country side looked a formless mass of chilly whiteness, as the south-western mail train carried John Treverton on a lonely midnight journey.