Chapter XI

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

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

later than; following

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

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

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

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

From this reading “You have been reading ‘Angélique’s’ Last Testament?”

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

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

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

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “You have been reading ‘Angélique’s’ Last Testament?”

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

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

absence of light or illumination

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

plural of “fate” — an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

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

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

in a grave and sober manner

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

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

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

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

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I laughed.

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

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

immediately past

From this reading “You have been reading ‘Angélique’s’ Last Testament?”

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading I laughed.

possessive form of “lawyer” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

a woman of refinement

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

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

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading “You have been reading ‘Angélique’s’ Last Testament?”

make reference to

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

a profession of belief

From this reading “You have been reading ‘Angélique’s’ Last Testament?”

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

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

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

From this reading “Pray the Fates it may not be so indeed,” he said gravely; and, pulling a paper out of his pocket, began to refer to it.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

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

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

(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 “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

(law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer

From this reading He was as good as his word, coming in a week later, after dark, with a face as long as a lawyer’s writ.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Well, madam,” he said, “you have cut the ground from under your own feet with a vengeance.”