Chapter XX · Peter Gets a Note

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

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

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

let fall to the ground

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

problem solving that involves numbers or quantities

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

depressingly dark

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

provided with artificial light

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

and nothing more

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

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

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

held up in the air

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

easily agitated

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

above and across; more than

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

stiff cardboard made by pasting together layers of paper

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

past form of “peer” — look searchingly

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

skillful performance or ability without difficulty

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

any broad thin expanse or surface

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

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

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

make square

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

workplace for the teaching or practice of an art

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

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

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

in a thoughtful manner

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

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

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

the upper part of anything

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

hand-operated character printer for printing written messages one character at a time

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

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

From this reading He tore up the top sheet of the pad; noted pencil indentations on the sheet next under it, and tore that up too.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

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

From this reading Just behind him on the small table was his typewriter, and there were sheets of paper scattered on the floor.

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

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He lifted his face, peered at the Worm through his large glasses, then with nervous quickness threw the bank books into a drawer which he locked.

any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae

From this reading |THE Worm walked slowly and thoughtfully across to Washington Square and the old brick apartment building.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading Peter was there--a gloomy intense figure, bent over the desk at the farther end of the nearly dark studio, his long face, the three little pasteboard bank books before him, the pad on which he was figuring and his thin hands illuminated in the yellow circle from the drop light on the desk.