Chapter I

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

From this reading (It was in the autumn of the great gambling year, 1910).

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

later than; following

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

(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 "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading (It was in the autumn of the great gambling year, 1910).

not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

housing that someone is living in

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

being one more than forty

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)

From this reading (It was in the autumn of the great gambling year, 1910).

something acquired without compensation

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

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

From this reading (It was in the autumn of the great gambling year, 1910).

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

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

ten 10s

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

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

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading (It was in the autumn of the great gambling year, 1910).

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

and nothing more

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

occurring by chance

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

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

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

largest city in New Hampshire; located in southeastern New Hampshire on the Merrimack river

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

a particular point in time

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

have ownership or possession of

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

restricted to something

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

a remark that calls attention to something or someone

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

plural of “share” — assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

and nothing more

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

not financially safe or secure

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

plural of “stockbroker” — an agent in the buying and selling of stocks and bonds

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

a quantity of money

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

-ing form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

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

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

the upper part of anything

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"

the act of transacting within or between groups (as carrying on commercial activities)

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

being four more than twenty

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

two times

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

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

From this reading (It was in the autumn of the great gambling year, 1910).

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading He had simply opened his lucky and wise mouth at the proper moment, and the money, like ripe golden fruit, had fallen into it, a gift from benign Heaven, surely a cause for happiness!

plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES’ TALE," "HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY," ETC.

the words that are spoken

From this reading The first two words of this disturbing meditation had reference to the fact that, by telephoning twice to his stockbrokers at Manchester, he had just made the sum of three hundred and forty-one pounds in a purely speculative transaction concerning Rubber shares.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading (It was in the autumn of the great gambling year, 1910).

but in spite of that

From this reading "And yet," Edward Henry Machin reflected as at six minutes to six he approached his own dwelling at the top of Bleakridge, "and yet--I don’t feel so jolly after all!"