Chapter I

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

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

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

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

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

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

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

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

a woman who has recently been married

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

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

From this reading But, talking or silent, Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

inflected form of “defy” — resist or confront with resistance

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

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

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

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

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading But, talking or silent, Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

United States film actor; son of Douglas Elton Fairbanks, (1909-2000)

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

possessive form of “faulkner” — United States novelist (originally Falkner) who wrote about people in the southern United States (1897-1962)

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

the quality of being final or definitely settled

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

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

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

the trait of acting stupidly or rashly

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

a long fixed look

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

a young female

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

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

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

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

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

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

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

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

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

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

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

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

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

inflected form of “level” — aim at

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

and nothing more

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

a particular point in time

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But, talking or silent, Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at.

by chance

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

cut with a saw

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading But, talking or silent, Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at.

having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading But, talking or silent, Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

plural of “spell” — a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

your usual mood

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

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

From this reading Author of "The Bride of a Moment," "Faulkner's Folly," etc.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"

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

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading But, talking or silent, Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

during the time that

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

a Caucasian

From this reading Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, delicate skin,--perhaps the least bit hand-painted,--showed temperament while her eyes, of the colour called beryl,--whatever that is,--showed all sorts of things.

which person or people

From this reading The air of finality in the gaze levelled at Braye defied contradiction, so he merely smiled at the girl who was doing the talking.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading But, talking or silent, Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading New York George H. Doran Company "But I _know_ it's so,--for Mrs. Fairbanks saw it herself,--and heard it, too!"