Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

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

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

third-person singular of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

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

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

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

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

a telegram sent abroad

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

the largest city in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty and overcrowding

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

the particular occupation for which you are trained

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

any undertaking that is easy to do

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

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

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

(of a person) beset by difficulties or conflict

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

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

From this reading —Francis O. Ticknor.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

of or relating to the science of geography

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

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

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

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

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

plural of “hearth” — an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

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

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

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

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

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

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

the act of departing

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

the quality of being good looking and attractive

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

plural of “map” — a diagrammatic representation of the earth's surface (or part of it)

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

a state in northwestern United States on the Canadian border

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

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

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading —Francis O. Ticknor.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

a town in southeastern Virginia (south of Richmond); scene of heavy fighting during the American Civil War

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

yielding material gain or profit

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

most quickly

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

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

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading John Armitage possessed a great store of geographical knowledge as interpreted in such literature.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

express in words

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

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

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

in or at that place or location

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

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

From this reading —Francis O. Ticknor.

closely constrained or constricted or constricting

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

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

From this reading The study of maps and time-tables is a far more profitable business than appears.

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

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

the capital and largest city of Japan; the economic and cultural center of Japan

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

the capital and largest city of Austria; located on the Danube in northeastern Austria; was the home of Beethoven and Brahms and Haydn and Mozart and Schubert and Strauss

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

which person or people

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

belonging to which person

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading A CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS —Who climbed the blue Virginia hills Against embattled foes; And planted there, in valleys fair, The lily and the rose; Whose fragrance lives in many lands, Whose beauty stars the earth, And lights the hearths of happy homes With loveliness and worth.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading He could tell you, without leaving his room, and probably without opening his trunk, the quickest way out of Tokio, or St. Petersburg, or Calcutta, or Cinch Tight, Montana, if you suddenly received a cablegram calling you to Vienna or Paris or Washington from one of those places.