Chapter V

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

for the reason that

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

next to; at the side of

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

a youthful male person

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

in a manner differing from the usual or expected

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

provided or supplied or equipped with (especially as by inheritance or nature)

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

at any time

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

plural of “festival” — a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

start firing a weapon

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

the force of workers available

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

not any; not one

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

not one, and not any

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

many times at short intervals

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

plural of “opera” — a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

plural of “performance” — a dramatic or musical entertainment

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

to a remarkable degree or extent

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

feeling or showing profound respect or veneration

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

city in southern Uzbekistan; Tamerlane's opulent capital in the 14th century

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

from appearances alone

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

with low volume

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

a trait of dignified seriousness

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

declared as fact; explicitly stated

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

plural of “taste” — the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

plural of “tune” — a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

without awareness

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

marked by dissimilarity

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

not noticed

From this reading Extraordinary natures, like his, are often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

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 Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

precisely as stated

From this reading The truth about this seemingly impossible circumstance was really very simple.

possessive form of “wagner” — Austrian architect and pioneer of modern architecture (1841-1918)

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

at the time that

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

make whistling sounds

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

which person or people

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mr. Van Torp knew no more about Bayreuth than about Samarkand, beyond the fact that at certain stated times performances of Wagner's operas were given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals, and that musical people spoke of the Bayreuth season in a curiously reverent manner.

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

From this reading He would have been much surprised if any one had told him that he often whistled fragments of _Parsifal_ to himself and liked the sound of them; for he had a natural ear and a good memory, and had whistled remarkably well when he was a boy.

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

From this reading In what he called his cow-punching days, he had been for six months in company with two young men who used to whistle softly together by the hour beside the camp fire, and none of the other 'boys' had ever heard the strange tunes they seemed to like best, but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments, almost unconsciously, and he whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no 'real music' ever did.