Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

the act of putting a person into a non-elective position

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading He was equally at home with people of wealth as he was with the poorest of his friends.

-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose)

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

opinion or judgment

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading He was equally at home with people of wealth as he was with the poorest of his friends.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

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

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

come together

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

a particular point in time

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

easily agitated

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

not any; not one

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

on one occasion

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

above and across; more than

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading He was equally at home with people of wealth as he was with the poorest of his friends.

superlative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity

From this reading He was equally at home with people of wealth as he was with the poorest of his friends.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

hot and dry enough to burn or parch a surface

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

thrown together in a disorderly fashion

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

having shoulders or shoulders as specified; usually used as a combining form

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

characterized by or preferring solitude

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading So eager was the old man to be seated, out of the scorching rays of the sun, that he left his bundle lying at the side of the road.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

a person who changes location

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

precisely as stated

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

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

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money

From this reading He was equally at home with people of wealth as he was with the poorest of his friends.

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

From this reading _A SOLITARY EXPLORER_ As Matt Larkin brought his car to a stop, the traveller greeted them as if he were an old acquaintance and had made an appointment for them to meet him at this very spot in the desert and had been waiting and expecting them to come along.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He was a thin faced little man, stoop shouldered as if he had spent his life bent over books, but there was a charm in his twinkling eyes that made friends at once for him, no matter what society he entered.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He took it as a matter of course that he would be invited to ride and the moment the door of the car was opened he scrambled in with quick, nervous movements.