Chapter I · Chapter 1

past form of “abate” — make less active or intense

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

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

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

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

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

accomplishment of an objective

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

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

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

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

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

for the reason that

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

a person who is in charge

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

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

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

plural of “disappointment” — a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

with eagerness; in an eager manner

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

opinion or judgment

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

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

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

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

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

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

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

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

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

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

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

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

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

United States writer remembered for his stories (1783-1859)

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

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

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

a form of address for a man

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

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

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

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

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

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

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

recurring again and again

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

an inscription written above something else

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

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

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

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

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

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

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.

in an incredulous manner

From this reading This afternoon his hand paused; he looked at the superscription on an envelope unbelievingly.

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

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

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

From this reading In the post-office of Beasley’s general store Irving Upton was eagerly sorting the mail.

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

From this reading His eagerness at that task had not been abated by the repeated, the daily disappointments which it had caused him.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading During the whole summer month for which he had now been in attendance as Mr. Beasley’s clerk, the arrival of the mail had constituted his chief interest.

afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

From this reading And because that for which he had been hoping had failed to come, his thin face had grown more worried, and the brooding look was more constantly in his eyes.