Chapter IX · A Message in the Night

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

quickly and without warning

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

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

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

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

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

for the reason that

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

constricted in size

From this reading The writing was in a fine, cramped, almost foreign-looking hand.

of metal e.g.

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading The writing was in a fine, cramped, almost foreign-looking hand.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

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

From this reading The writing was in a fine, cramped, almost foreign-looking hand.

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The writing was in a fine, cramped, almost foreign-looking hand.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

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

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

a brief written record

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

and nothing more

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

on the contrary

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

a small fragment of something broken off from the whole

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

any broad thin expanse or surface

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

having a handwritten signature

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

and nothing more

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

made smooth by ironing

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

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

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

separate or cause to separate abruptly

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

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 It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

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

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

not given to gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

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

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Patricia took the crumpled scrap of paper to the table and smoothed it out under the lamp.

precisely as stated

From this reading It looked very much as if some one had tried at first to tear it in pieces, and, not having succeeded in this, had simply crumpled it and thrown it away.

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

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It was a single sheet and was torn almost in two, one way across and partially along all its edges, as if an attempt had been made to destroy it, an attempt that had not been totally successful, probably because the paper was rather thick and tough.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading And the note, for such it appeared to be, was un-addressed, beginning abruptly, without a name, and signed at the end with only an initial.

the act of creating written works

From this reading The writing was in a fine, cramped, almost foreign-looking hand.