Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

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

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

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

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

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

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

on or to one side

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

a blemish made by dirt

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

with convulsions, in a convulsive way

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

plural of “covering” — a natural object that covers or envelops

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

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

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

precise; explicit and clearly defined

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

drawn out or made longer spatially

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

at any time

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

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

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

past form of “flank” — be located at the sides of something or somebody

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

at a previous time

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

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

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

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

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

a large number or amount

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

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

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

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

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

in an insistent manner

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

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

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

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

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

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

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

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

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

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

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

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

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

on one occasion

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

in a restless manner

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

only a very short time before

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

having no definite form or distinct shape

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

the display of a motion picture

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

in a disgusting manner or to a disgusting degree

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

the brightly colored garments of a jockey; emblematic of the stable

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

acceptance of despair

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

plural of “tapestry” — something that resembles a tapestry in its intricacy

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

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

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

plural of “thumb” — the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

past form of “twitch” — make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading One limb, twitched and drawn up convulsively, told of a definite seat of pain.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

precisely as stated

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

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

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being

From this reading The hands, thin and wasted, lay out upon the coverlets; and the thumbs were creeping, creeping ever more insistently, under the cover of the fingers, telling that the battle for life was lost, that the surrender had been made.

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

From this reading His face was shrunken and drawn with pain; his eyes, once bright, were dulled; his brow, formerly imperious, had lost its arrogance.

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

From this reading Under the coverings which, in the unrest of illness, he now pulled high about his face, now tossed restlessly aside, his figure lay, an elongated, shapeless blot, scarce showing beneath the silks.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading THE GRAND MONARQUE On a great bed of state, satin draped, flanked with ancient tapestries, piled sickeningly soft with heaps of pillows, there lay a thin, withered little man--old, old and very feeble.