Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

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

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

any thing at all

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

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

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

-ing form of “bleach” — remove color from

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

the boundary of a surface

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

the state of being noble

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

divisible by two

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

at any time

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

a journey taken for pleasure

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

a social unit living together

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

the act of departing

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

a conversation that spreads personal information about other people

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

the property of being rigid and resistant to pressure; not easily scratched; measured on Mohs scale

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

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

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

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

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

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

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

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

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

past form of “mass” — join together into a mass or collect or form a mass

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

become covered with mist

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

to, toward, or in the northeast

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

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

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

past form of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

tending to return to an earlier state

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.

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

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

the first light of day

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

in a tentative manner

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

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

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

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

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

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

From this reading In the North-East the gray wall of mist was losing the hardness of its edge, and behind the cloud the sky was bleaching to an ever paler blue.

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

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading They haven't done anything, even in the usual way, to earn ennoblement or fame."

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

From this reading The full day had come, and the cold draught of air that had preceded the sunrise came now from behind me as if the spirits of the air had discovered that their panic-stricken flight had been a mistake and were tentatively returning to inquire into the new conditions.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The birds were fully awake now, and there was a tremendous gossiping and chattering going on, that made me think of massed school-children in a railway station, twittering with the excitement of their coming excursion.

but in spite of that

From this reading "And yet," I said, as my companion paused, "the Jervaises aren't anything particular as a family.