Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

later than; following

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

anew

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

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

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

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

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

react verbally

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

a young person of either sex

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

rid of obstructions

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

at any time

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

possessive form of “girl” — a young female

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

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

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

engage in

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

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

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

used to form the superlative

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

on one occasion

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

cut with a saw

From this reading "Once, when I was still a child, I saw a child's face, a girl's face; it lives in my memory as the face of an angel.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

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

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

not in physical motion

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

express in words

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

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

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

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

From this reading It was a sunny morning, a May morning, such a morning as this, one of those days that always make one think of roses.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

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

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

at the time that

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

during the time that

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

which person or people

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now, when Guido asked him that question, I expected to hear from Dante a mocking answer, but instead, to my surprise, he sat quite still for a little while, almost like a man in a trance, with his hands clasped about his knees, and it seemed to me as if he were seeing, as indeed he was seeing, things that we who were with him did not see and could not see.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"

the words that are spoken

From this reading After a while he spoke in a soft voice, and for the most part his words came sharp and clear, like the words of a man that speaks in a dream.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Guido and I looked at each other in wonder, and then Guido asked again, "Tell me, comrade, have you ever been in love?"