Chapter II

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading It smote him as with sudden lightning shock.

superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading BIGGEST SMASH ON RECORD.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

plural of “close” — the temporal end; the concluding time

From this reading TRI-STATE TRUST COMPANY CLOSES ITS DOORS.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading TRI-STATE TRUST COMPANY CLOSES ITS DOORS.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading TRI-STATE TRUST COMPANY CLOSES ITS DOORS.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

plural of “headline” — the heading or caption of a newspaper article

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

a vast multitude

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

the quality of being humane

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

incapable of being avoided or prevented

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

(mathematics) a variable that has zero as its limit

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

moving to the inside of something

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading TRI-STATE TRUST COMPANY CLOSES ITS DOORS.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light

From this reading It smote him as with sudden lightning shock.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

a disorderly crowd of people

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

not any; not one

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading BIGGEST SMASH ON RECORD.

by chance

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events

From this reading BIGGEST SMASH ON RECORD.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

cause fear in

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading It smote him as with sudden lightning shock.

walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

hit hard

From this reading BIGGEST SMASH ON RECORD.

small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading It smote him as with sudden lightning shock.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading It smote him as with sudden lightning shock.

past form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

in or at that place or location

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

push forcefully

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading TRI-STATE TRUST COMPANY CLOSES ITS DOORS.

something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading TRI-STATE TRUST COMPANY CLOSES ITS DOORS.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

plural of “vagabond” — anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place

From this reading But no sooner had he reached the middle of the sidewalk than there swooped down upon him a horde of vagabonds, infinitesimal specimens of humanity, and this mob of street gamins had but a single purpose, sang but a common song:

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

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

From this reading For weeks and months, perhaps, Ilingsworth had seen this coming, had known that it was inevitable, and here it was, thrust into his face in scare headlines that smelt to heaven!

in the company of; together with

From this reading It smote him as with sudden lightning shock.