Chapter VI

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

death of a person

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

plural of “grope” — the act of groping; and instance of groping

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

a gruff or angry utterance (suggestive of the growling of an animal)

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

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

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

third-person singular of “hear” — perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

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

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

not admitting of passage or capable of being affected

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

and nothing more

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

plural of “lane” — a narrow way or road

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

immediately past

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

a region in central Italy

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

subject to death

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

on one occasion

From this reading What?--Speak out at once!”

plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading What?--Speak out at once!”

a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

third-person singular of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

precisely, exactly

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

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

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading “I will,” says Bunce.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

express in speech

From this reading What?--Speak out at once!”

a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

in or at that place or location

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

a three-legged metal stand for supporting a cooking vessel in a hearth

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

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

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

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

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading “I’m right,” thought Bunce, “as any trivet; Another venture--and then up I give it!”

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

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading He rings--the door, just like a fairy portal, Opens untouch’d by mortal---- He gropes his way into a dingy room, And hears a voice come growling through the gloom, “Well--eh?--Who?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What?--Speak out at once!”

which person or people

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Away the porter marches, And with grave face, obsequious precedes him, Down crooked lanes, round corners, under arches; At last, up an old-fashion’d staircase leads him, Almost impervious to the morning ray, Then shows a door--“There, that’s a doctor’s reckon’d, A rare Top-Sawyer, let who will come second-- Good day.”