Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

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

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading Yet for the fifth time they had failed to act on their convictions.

united by being of the same opinion

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

at or in the front

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

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

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a formal organization of people or groups of people

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

plural of “attention” — the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

cheerful and bright

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a young person of either sex

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

plural of “conviction” — an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

From this reading Yet for the fifth time they had failed to act on their convictions.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

communicated in words

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

opinion or judgment

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

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

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading Yet for the fifth time they had failed to act on their convictions.

a boy or man

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

with resolute determination

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

move back and forth very rapidly

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

set up or found

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

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

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

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

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

and nothing more

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Yet for the fifth time they had failed to act on their convictions.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

plural of “opportunity” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

not arrogant or presuming

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

socially incorrect in behavior

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

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

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

express in words

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

be seated

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

-ing form of “square” — make square

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

not in physical motion

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading They owed him a lot for his attentions of the past few days, and there were few opportunities of squaring the account.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

a special situation

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading Yet for the fifth time they had failed to act on their convictions.

marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

a vivid mental image

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

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

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

at the time that

From this reading SERGEANT MAHON'S VISION For the fifth time Sergeant Mahon and Helen had firmly expressed their intention of retiring; the hour, they agreed, was unseemly, when now weeks of almost unbroken association stretched ahead of them.

during the time that

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

in the company of; together with

From this reading For one thing they were impressed with the selfishness of retiring while still Constable Williams sat with never a flicker of sleep in his eyes.

the remaining parts of something that has been wrecked

From this reading In the rude chair he had salved from the village wreckage the big fellow was content to sit to any hour of the night, merely smoking and listening, face beaming, pleased as a child when he found something to say.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet for the fifth time they had failed to act on their convictions.