Chapter XV · Chapter 15

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

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

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

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

past form of “associate” — make a logical or causal connection

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

relating to or based on or involving comparison

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

without or almost without hope

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

a loud harsh or strident noise

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

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

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

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

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

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

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

characteristic of or resembling Hell

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

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

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

plural of “pick” — the person or thing chosen or selected

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

the force of policemen and officers

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

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

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

the property of having a relatively small size

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

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

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

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

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

not obtrusive or undesirably noticeable

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Then he awoke suddenly and sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes.

under normal conditions

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

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

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

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

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It was a knocking which he usually associated with the police, and it came from his side door.

which person or people

From this reading The din was infernal to a man who liked to do a quiet business in an unobtrusive way.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At first the noise mingled with his dreams, and helped to form them.

plural of “worker” — a person who works at a specific occupation

From this reading He was down a mine, and grimy workers with strong picks were knocking diamonds from the walls, diamonds so large that he became despondent at the comparative smallness of his own.