Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

later than; following

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

anew

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

(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 They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

extreme mental distress

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.

to a noticeable degree

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

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

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

make a strident sound

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

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

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

freeing from false belief or illusions

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

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

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

divisible by two

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

something many people believe that is false

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

plural of “glimpse” — a quick look

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

plural of “gust” — a strong current of air

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

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

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

and nothing more

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

for more time

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

used to form the superlative

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

above and across; more than

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

catch up with and possibly overtake

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

not often

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

hot and dry enough to burn or parch a surface

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

get by special effort

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

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

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

held in check with difficulty

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

plural of “spring” — the season of growth

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

express in words

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

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

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

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

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He could even maintain the delusion for several days--for intervals each time appreciably longer--before it shrivelled up again in a scorching blast of disenchantment.

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

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

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

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

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

From this reading These glimpses were given to them more and more rarely.

at the time that

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

during the time that

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading The smothered springs of life were bubbling up in Ralph, and there were days when he was glad to wake and see the sun in his window, and when he began to plan his book, and to fancy that the planning really interested him.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

the least favorable outcome

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading They came sometimes just when he felt most secure, when he was saying to himself: "After all, things are really worth while--" sometimes even when he was sitting with Clare Van Degen, listening to her voice, watching her hands, and turning over in his mind the opening chapters of his book.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The worst of it was that he could never tell when these hot gusts of anguish would overtake him.