Chapter I

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

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

anew

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

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

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

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

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

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

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

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

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

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

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

the two together, not just one

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

a graphic or vivid verbal description

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

past form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

declare untrue; contradict

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

serving to describe or inform or characterized by description

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

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

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

usually; as a rule

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

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

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

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

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

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

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

suitable for or suggestive of singing

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

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

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

on one occasion

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

and nothing more

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

make a promise or commitment

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

problem solving that involves numbers or quantities

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

filled with shade

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

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

From this reading Many of the descriptive passages have an almost lyrical charm and the characterisation is generally speaking deft and life-like.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading “A book of real distinction both of style and thought.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

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

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading I stood watching the shadowy fish slide through the gloom of the mill-pond.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

a Caucasian

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

in the company of; together with

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading ‘The White Peacock’ is a book not only worth reading but worth reckoning with, for we are inclined to think the author has come to stay.”—_The Morning Post._ “That it has elements of greatness few will deny.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Mr. Heinemann is, once again, to be congratulated on a writer of promise.”—_The Observer_.