Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

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

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

expected hopefully

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

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

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

caused to show discomposure

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

someone whose employment involves carrying something

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

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

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

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

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

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

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

apart from; not including

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

a person who operates a farm

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

a man of refinement

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

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

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

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

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

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

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading But no one had seen or heard of him.

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

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

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

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

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

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

the literary culture

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

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

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

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

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

not any; not one

From this reading But no one had seen or heard of him.

no person; not anyone

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

someone legally empowered to witness signatures and certify a document's validity and to take depositions

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

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

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

a country person

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

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

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

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

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

one of four equal parts

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

any address at which you dwell more than temporarily

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

Identical; not different.

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But no one had seen or heard of him.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

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

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

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

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

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

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

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

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

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

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

plural of “wanderer” — someone who leads a wandering unsettled life

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

at the time that

From this reading Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office.

in or at the place that

From this reading The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat.

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

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

which person or people

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.