Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

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

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

cooked in hot water

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

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

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

(Islam) an invisible spirit mentioned in the Koran and believed by Muslims to inhabit the earth and influence mankind by appearing in the form of humans or animals

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

let fall to the ground

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

cooked by frying in fat

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

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

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

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

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

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

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

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

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

an opening into or through something

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

a woman host

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

a tight cluster of people or things

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

a midday meal

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

intermediate in size

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

without mercy or pity

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

(of soil) soft and watery

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

not in physical motion

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

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

From this reading Li Ho was attentive but silent And outside the rain still rained.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

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

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

not seen or perceived

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

up to a particular time

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

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

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

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

From this reading Professor Spence lay and counted the drops as they fell from a knot hole in the veranda roof--one small drop--two medium-sized drops--one big drop--as if some unseen djinn were measuring them out in ruthless monotony.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.

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

From this reading Luncheon, for which Li Ho had provided eggs both boiled and fried, was eaten alone.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His hostess did not honor him with her company, nor did her father return.

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

From this reading He counted the drops until his brain felt soggy and he began to speculate upon what Aunt Caroline would think of fried eggs for luncheon.