Chapter I

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

later than; following

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

the consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event)

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

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

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

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

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

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

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

for the reason that

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

brought into existence

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

a period of 100 years

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

a young person of either sex

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

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

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

a squeaking sound

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

in a manner differing from the usual or expected

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

marked by breaks or gaps

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

being one more than seven

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

coming next after the seventh and just before the ninth in position

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

the totality of surrounding conditions

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

a defamatory or abusive word or phrase

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

a social unit living together

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

an acute insufficiency

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

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

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

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

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

a community of people smaller than a village

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

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

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 which marked the beginning of the Muslim era; the Muslim calendar begins in that year

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

a major road for any form of motor transport

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

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

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

long past; beyond the limits of memory or tradition or recorded history

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

relating to or associated with an empire

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

the state of being inactive

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

lacking worth or importance

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

immediately past

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

hired for the exclusive temporary use of a group of travelers

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

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

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name)

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

coming next after the eighteenth in position

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

position nine in a countable series of things

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

not any; not one

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

a symbol used to represent a number

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

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

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

expressing offensive reproach

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

a family name derived from name of your father or a paternal ancestor (especially with an affix (such as -son in English or O'- in Irish) added to the name of your father or a paternal ancestor)

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

in a matter-of-fact manner

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

being the most concentrated solution possible at a given temperature; unable to dissolve still more of a substance

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

only a very short time before

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

the meaning of a word or expression; the way in which a word or expression or situation can be interpreted

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

(of an infant) breast-fed

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

continue to live and avoid dying

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

plural of “survivor” — one who lives through affliction

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

moving very fast

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

a word or expression used for some particular thing

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

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

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

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

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

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

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

usually herbivorous land turtles having clawed elephant-like limbs; worldwide in arid area except Australia and Antarctica

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

past form of “trundle” — move heavily

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

in an unceremonious manner

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

not known

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

up to a particular time

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

the act of using

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

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

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

freed of dependence on something especially (for mammals) mother's milk

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

a cart for carrying small loads; has handles and one or more wheels

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

at the time that

From this reading When he was little more than three and scarcely weaned (for the children of this land are suckled until they can run) he was unceremoniously put on a creaking wheelbarrow and trundled off into the unknown.

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

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

any one of a set, it does not matter which

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.

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

From this reading He was the eighth child; that was why, according to immemorial custom, he was called the Ninth, since the numeral eight added to his patronymic signified that opprobrious epithet term "tortoise," a nickname which no Chinese could survive.

in the company of; together with

From this reading This inconsequential _hegira_ was the beginning of his great adventures,--and was the natural aftermath of a curiously swift tragedy in an environment saturated with inaction.

a late time of life

From this reading Wang the Ninth was born a few years before the end of the nineteenth century in a village called prosaically in the vernacular Ten Li Hamlet because it lay ten _li_ or Chinese miles from the great imperial highway.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Famine had suddenly descended on Ten Li Hamlet, and his brothers and sisters, having been leased or sold one after another to neighbours (you can use whichever expression you like), he and his father had become the last survivors in a disrupted family.