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 _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

later than; following

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

possessing life

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

using the voice; not silently

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

cause to be bored

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

a youthful male person

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

past form of “conceive” — have the idea for

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

plural of “cork” — outer bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

plural of “creation” — the human act of creating

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

let fall to the ground

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

every person

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

opinion or judgment

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

set up or found

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

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

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

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

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

plural of “hilltop” — the peak of a hill

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

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

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

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

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

to or toward the inside of

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

plural of “lawn” — a field of cultivated and mowed grass

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

and nothing more

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

plural of “planet” — (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

plural of “playground” — an area where many people go for recreation

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

having a point

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

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

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

in or at or to some place

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading He had only to close his eyes, drop his thoughts inwards, sink after them himself, call aloud and--see.

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

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

(informal) small and of little importance

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

up to a particular time

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.

in a vivid manner

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

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

From this reading The name was the breath of life; and, sooner or later, he invariably found it.

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

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

which person or people

From this reading _To those who hear._ As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names--real names.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Inside him somewhere stretched immense playgrounds, compared to which the hay-fields and lawns of his father's estate seemed trivial: plains without horizon, seas deep enough to float the planets like corks, and "such tremendous forests" with "trees like tall pointed hilltops."

plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading His imagination conceived and bore--worlds; but nothing in these worlds became alive until he discovered its true and living name.