Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

with few mistakes

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

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

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada

From this reading OF CANADA, LTD.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

rid of obstructions

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading THE MACMILLAN CO.

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

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

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

cause to move by striking

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

too small or unimportant to merit attention

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

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

From this reading OF CANADA, LTD.

an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

Scottish physiologist who directed the research by F. G. Banting and C. H. Best that led to the discovery of insulin (1876-1935)

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

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

From this reading THE MACMILLAN CO.

a particular point in time

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

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

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading OF CANADA, LTD.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

an agreeable or amusing remark

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading AUTHOR OF "MY LOVE AND I," "CHILDREN OF EARTH," "ROSE MACLEOD," ETC.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

the season of growth

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

the husband of your mother by a subsequent marriage

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

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

From this reading THE MACMILLAN CO.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading There could not have been a more sympathetic moment for coming into the country town--or, more accurately, the inconsiderable city--of Addington than this clear twilight of a spring day.

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

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

the state of being urgent; an earnest and insistent necessity

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Anne and Lydia French with their stepfather, known in domestic pleasantry as the colonel, had hit upon a perfect combination of time and weather, and now they stood in a dazed silence, dense to the proffers of two hackmen with the urgency of twenty, and looked about them.