Chapter III · The Hermit's Crust

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

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

fruit of the oak tree: a smooth thin-walled nut in a woody cup-shaped base

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

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

From this reading The table was laid with a white cloth almost to the floor.

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

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe

From this reading The worn rim marked the extreme antiquity of this bowl.

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

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading The table was laid with a white cloth almost to the floor.

in a crude or unrefined manner

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

the act of eating dinner

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

apart from; not including

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading The worn rim marked the extreme antiquity of this bowl.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The table was laid with a white cloth almost to the floor.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

set up or found

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

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

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

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

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

and nothing more

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

set down according to a plan

From this reading The table was laid with a white cloth almost to the floor.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

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 This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

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

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

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

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading The worn rim marked the extreme antiquity of this bowl.

imposing in size or bulk or solidity

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

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

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

hit lightly with a picking motion

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object

From this reading The worn rim marked the extreme antiquity of this bowl.

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

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

marked by correspondence or resemblance

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading The table was laid with a white cloth almost to the floor.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

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

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The Marchesa passed through the door held open by the butler, across a little stone passage, into the dining room.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

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

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

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

From this reading In the center of it was a single silver bowl, as great as a peck measure, filled with fruit, an old massive piece, shaped like the hull of a huge acorn, the surface crudely cut to resemble the outside of that first model for his cup, which the early man found under the oak tree.

a Caucasian

From this reading The table was laid with a white cloth almost to the floor.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading This room was in structure similar to the one she had just quitted, except for the two long windows cut through the south wall--flood gates for the sun.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The table was laid with a white cloth almost to the floor.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading The worn rim marked the extreme antiquity of this bowl.