Chapter XIII

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

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading An impenetrable world lay round him.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

of or relating to Canada or its people

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

rid of obstructions

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

slightly wet

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

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

From this reading An impenetrable world lay round him.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

not admitting of penetration or passage into or through

From this reading An impenetrable world lay round him.

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

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

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

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

superlative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading An impenetrable world lay round him.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

(of liquids) clouded as with sediment

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

many times at short intervals

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

and nothing more

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy; impenetrable to sight

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

by chance

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading An impenetrable world lay round him.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

not in physical motion

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

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

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

a special situation

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

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

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Only a raw bite in the damp atmosphere told him he stood beneath an open sky.

having come into contact

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

under the level of the ground

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

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

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

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

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

at the time that

From this reading When O'Reilly came up the stairs at South Kensington Station, he emerged into such murky darkness that he thought he was still underground.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

in the company of; together with

From this reading For some little time he stood and stared--a Canadian soldier, his home among clear brilliant spaces, now face to face for the first time in his life with that thing he had so often read about--a bad London fog.

showing curiosity

From this reading With keenest interest and surprise he "enjoyed" the novel spectacle for perhaps ten minutes, watching the people arrive and vanish, and wondering why the station lights stopped dead the instant they touched the street--then, with a sense of adventure--it cost an effort--he left the covered building and plunged into the opaque sea beyond.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading An impenetrable world lay round him.