Chapter XXV

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

in a state of sleep

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading "The children...?"

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Gerrit made progress every day.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

like down or as soft as down

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

-ing form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Gerrit made progress every day.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

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

From this reading Gerrit made progress every day.

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

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

and nothing more

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Gerrit made progress every day.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

gradual improvement or growth or development

From this reading Gerrit made progress every day.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

express in speech

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

up to a particular time

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He was now so much better that he sat in a big chair, sat dozing until he sank away in the downy abyss and fell asleep in his chair.

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

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

the words that are spoken

From this reading He was now so much better that he was able to speak a few words to the two women and the doctor and the nurse; and his first question was:

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.

but in spite of that

From this reading He had understood that they were not there and that he would not see them just yet.