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 It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

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

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

to come to rest, settle

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

(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 Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

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

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

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

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

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

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

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

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

past form of “bellow” — shout loudly and without restraint

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

a young person of either sex

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

the process of taking food into the body through the mouth (as by eating)

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

an intense desire for some particular thing

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

a female human offspring

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

something regarded with special favor or liking

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

any material that fills a space or container

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

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

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

yet to be or coming

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

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

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

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

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

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

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

lacking in or deprived of strength or power

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

inflected form of “hem” — fold over and sew together to provide with a hem

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

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

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

possessive form of “host” — a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

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

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

good weather with comfortable temperatures

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

past form of “miscalculate” — judge incorrectly

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

past form of “mock” — treat with contempt

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

the mother of your spouse

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

and nothing more

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

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

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

established beyond doubt

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

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

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

past form of “sacrifice” — endure the loss of

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

the brightly colored garments of a jockey; emblematic of the stable

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

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

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

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

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

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

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading It was an evening of sudden mildness following a dry October gale.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading From end to end the room was alight with it, as if the stored-up energies of a whole pine-tree had been sacrificed in the consumption of that four-foot stick.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The colonel had miscalculated the temperature by one log--only one, he declared, but that had proved a pitchy one, and the chimney bellowed with flame.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Across the hearth, filling with her silks all the visible room in his own favorite settle corner, sat the one woman on earth it most behooved him to be civil to,--the future mother-in-law of his only child.

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

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading The young persons of the house had escaped, laughing, into the fresh night air, but the colonel was hemmed in on every side; deserted by his daughter, mocked by the work of his own hands, and torn between the duties of a host and the host's helpless craving for his after-dinner cigar.