Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

later than; following

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

cause to become awake or conscious

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading Cummins turned to him, and, in the dim light of the cabin, their eyes met.

treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading Cummins turned to him, and, in the dim light of the cabin, their eyes met.

opinion or judgment

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

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

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

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

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

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 As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading It was then that Jan Thoreau knew what had happened.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

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

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

in the manner of someone who is very hungry

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading Cummins turned to him, and, in the dim light of the cabin, their eyes met.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading It was then that Jan Thoreau knew what had happened.

immediately past

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Cummins turned to him, and, in the dim light of the cabin, their eyes met.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

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 As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

below the surround or below the normal position

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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 For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading Cummins turned to him, and, in the dim light of the cabin, their eyes met.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

made smooth by ironing

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

weep convulsively

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

with low volume

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

not in physical motion

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

with tenderness; in a tender manner

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

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

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Cummins turned to him, and, in the dim light of the cabin, their eyes met.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It was then that Jan Thoreau knew what had happened.

United States writer and social critic (1817-1862)

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Cummins turned to him, and, in the dim light of the cabin, their eyes met.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.

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

From this reading It was the great, heart-broken sob of John Cummins that stopped him.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It was then that Jan Thoreau knew what had happened.

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

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

a Caucasian

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow; and with staring black eyes Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still, white face.

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

From this reading For many minutes after the last gentle breath had passed from the woman's lips, Jan Thoreau played softly upon his violin.