Chapter I

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

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

later than; following

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading The artist coughed.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

(of hair) colored a moderate reddish-brown

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

a line made of twisted fibers or threads

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

past form of “cough” — exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion

From this reading The artist coughed.

of the color of cream

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

with dexterity; in a dexterous manner

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

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

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

-ing form of “eye” — look at

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

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

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

showing lack of skill or aptitude

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

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

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

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

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

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

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

lacking spirit or liveliness

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

the common people generally

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

in the right manner; correctly; suitably

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

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

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

(Old Testament) the 2nd son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

block consisting of a thick piece of something

From this reading The large masses of auburn hair of the bent head floated on the creamy slab.

a long narrow opening

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

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

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

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

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

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

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

inflected form of “tug” — pull hard

From this reading Simeon Erard tiptoed deftly across the room, tugging at his thin, sandy heard.

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

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

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

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.

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

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

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

From this reading Fumbling among the curtains which draped one corner of the best light, he pulled the cord, after carefully eyeing his visitors to see that all were placed properly.

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The light silk folds fell apart, revealing a small canvas,--a cool deep slit of grey water let into a marble floor, which was cut in two by the languorous reach of a woman’s back done in hard green.