Chapter VII

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

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

having companions or an escort

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

with few mistakes

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

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

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

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

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

(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 Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

plural of “alto” — a singer whose voice lies in the alto clef

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

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

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

a male singer

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

United States politician who was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles (1917-1998)

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

gathered together or made less diffuse

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

a female human offspring

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

obeying the rules

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

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

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

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

From this reading It made her think of Giles and of his mother, and of Toppie, too.

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

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

death of a person

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

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

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

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

From this reading It made her think of Giles and of his mother, and of Toppie, too.

plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

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

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

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

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It made her think of Giles and of his mother, and of Toppie, too.

any expected deliverer

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

used to form the superlative

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading It made her think of Giles and of his mother, and of Toppie, too.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

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

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

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

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

on one occasion

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

a woman postmaster

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

widely cultivated for its fragrant grey-green leaves used in cooking and in perfumery

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

deliver by singing

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

plural of “soprano” — a female singer

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

-ing form of “sustain” — lengthen or extend in duration or space

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

plural of “tenor” — the adult male singing voice above baritone

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

used as intensifiers

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

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

From this reading Of all her new experiences Alix most enjoyed “The Messiah.”

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It made her think of Giles and of his mother, and of Toppie, too.

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

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It made her think of Giles and of his mother, and of Toppie, too.

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

From this reading It made her think of Giles and of his mother, and of Toppie, too.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

a rod used by a magician or water diviner

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

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

From this reading The village choir was a feeble enough little affair, its energy concentrated in Giles’s disciplined, sustaining baritone and the robust sopranos of Ruth, Rosemary, and the postmistress.

wanting in physical strength

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

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

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The tenors were almost non-existent, and the altos, among whom Alix was placed at once, terribly weak.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.

inflected form of “weave” — interlace by or as if by weaving

From this reading But the doctor’s daughter, at the piano, accompanied so accurately, Mrs. Bradley, gentle and absorbed, with her wand, conducted so carefully, that it was a pleasure to sing, and the grave exultant music wove itself deeply into Alix’s impressions of the new life.