Chapter I

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

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

anew

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

a Hebrew shepherd and minor prophet

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

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

From this reading Steinberg was an electronic genius.

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

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

acting with a specific goal

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

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

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

plural of “decade” — a period of 10 years

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

true confidential information

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

thrown away

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

of or relating to electronics; concerned with or using devices that operate on principles governing the behavior of electrons

From this reading Steinberg was an electronic genius.

the branch of physics that deals with the emission and effects of electrons and with the use of electronic devices

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

plural of “employee” — a worker who is hired to perform a job

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

plural of “engineer” — a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

opinion or judgment

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading Steinberg was an electronic genius.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

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

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

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

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

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

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

not injurious to physical or mental health

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

filled with a great quantity

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

most important element

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

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 Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

place in proper rank

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

the force of workers available

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

a large indefinite number

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

on one occasion

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

the local environment

From this reading Like most men, Amos Handworthy was a creature of many parts.

put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

the act or process of producing something

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

any red eruption of the skin

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

refuse to accept or acknowledge

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

from appearances alone

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

a hostile disagreement face-to-face

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

the act of separating grain from chaff

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

United States cartoonist (born in Romania) noted for his caricatures of famous people (1914-1999)

From this reading Steinberg was an electronic genius.

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

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

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

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

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

plural of “transistor” — a semiconductor device capable of amplification

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

(informal) small and of little importance

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

under normal conditions

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

plural of “venture” — any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

migratory

From this reading To his employees he was a distant, ominous figure, wandering through his electronics plant occasionally, staring with pale blue eyes at a myriad of trivial details, sifting through the reject box of discarded transistors and occasionally stopping to ask a loaded but seemingly innocuous question of one of the production engineers.

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

From this reading Steinberg was an electronic genius.

(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 To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.

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

From this reading To his business associates he was a sober, calculating entrepreneur, given occasionally to rash ventures which through outrageous turns of luck usually ended well.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Here, the Old West was dead and gone for many decades, but now once again a man could stroll down Main Street for a showdown with the Marshal.