Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading It seemed a needless question.

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

Having no one else present.

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

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

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

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

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

a long seat for more than one person

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

inflected form of “bestride” — get up on the back of

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

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

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

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

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

come to pass

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

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

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

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

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed a needless question.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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 The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

unnecessary and unwarranted

From this reading It seemed a needless question.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

above and across; more than

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading It seemed a needless question.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed a needless question.

past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

past form of “sift” — move as if through a sieve

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

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

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

with anxiety or apprehension

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

precisely as stated

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "Are you sure we are quite alone in this big, desolate place?" he asked.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

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

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

which person or people

From this reading The man who was thus addressed shifted uneasily on the long bench which he and his companion bestrode.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading He was facing the speaker, and though very little light sifted through the cobweb-covered window high over their heads, he realized that what there was fell on his features, and he was not sure of his features, or of what effect their expression might have on the other man.

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

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "_Do you know what would happen to him?_" "Now state your problem."