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 In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

(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 Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

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

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

any person at all

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

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

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

with care and persistence

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

not methodically or according to plan

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

a period of 100 years

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

provoking fear terror

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

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

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

a digestible substance used to give color to food

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

in a conservative manner

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

(of land or soil) used for growing crops

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

(plural) the deepest and most remote part

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

covered or protected with or as if with a case

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

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

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

extremely impressive in strength or excellence

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

set up or found

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

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

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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 His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

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

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

a high place

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

characterized by enmity or ill will

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

in a manner intended to avoid attracting attention

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

and nothing more

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

immediately past

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

engage in

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

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

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

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

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

with neatness

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

a brief written record

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

capable or worthy of being noticed

From this reading In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable.

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

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

paying close attention especially to details

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

and nothing more

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

a human being

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

one of four equal parts

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

the display of a motion picture

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

in or at that place or location

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

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

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

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

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

position 20 in a countable series of things

From this reading Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors below--to all outward appearances.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

except if; if not

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

not having a lining or liner

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

the act of using

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

precisely as stated

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

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

From this reading His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boy's face was not one to be remembered--unless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.

any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

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

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

which person or people

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading To anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable.