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 Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

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

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

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

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

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

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

on or to one side

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

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

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

travel across or pass over

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

a state in which you want to learn more about something

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

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

From this reading PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

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

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

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

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

divisible by two

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

an act that fails

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

plural of “failure” — an act that fails

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

set up or found

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

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

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

musically pleasing

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

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

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

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

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

enclosed in the same envelope or package

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

apart from others

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

plural of “intellect” — knowledge and intellectual ability

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

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

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

(anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion)

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

and nothing more

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

a metric unit of length equal to one thousandth of a meter

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

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

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

the members of a business venture created by contract

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

plural of “partnership” — the members of a business venture created by contract

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

bring forth or yield

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

established beyond doubt

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

not often

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

unusual or striking

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

and nothing more

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

having a supporting base

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

to a sufficient degree

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

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

From this reading PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

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

From this reading PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

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

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

precisely as stated

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

at the time that

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

in or at the place that

From this reading Erckman-Chatrian; but when the partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects, and where the highest hopes have been entertained.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success in the more imaginative branches of literature.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Standing almost if not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a literary curiosity, a _great book_.

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.

the act of creating written works

From this reading Occasionally two minds have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good joint writing, as in the works of MM.