Chapter IV

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

later than; following

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

Having no one else present.

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

plural of “answer” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

next to; at the side of

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

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

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

marked by continuous change or effective action

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

-ing form of “desire” — feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

one or the other of two

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

opinion or judgment

From this reading That he might not see its curious and pitying faces he pressed a hand over his eyes.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading That he might not see its curious and pitying faces he pressed a hand over his eyes.

-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

treated with dislike or contempt

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

a state of active curiosity

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

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 He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

the force of workers available

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading That he might not see its curious and pitying faces he pressed a hand over his eyes.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

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

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

in motion

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

above and across; more than

From this reading That he might not see its curious and pitying faces he pressed a hand over his eyes.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

-ing form of “pity” — share the suffering of

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

compacted by ironing

From this reading That he might not see its curious and pitying faces he pressed a hand over his eyes.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading That he might not see its curious and pitying faces he pressed a hand over his eyes.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

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

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

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

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

up to a particular time

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

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

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

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

From this reading After some time—either minutes or hours—came a hand on his shoulder that stayed till he moved and looked up.

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

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

which person or people

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading He did not know how long he sat beside her, nursing a dead hand in his own; but he knew he hated and shrank from the people around him—a group that kept forming and moving away and whispering as it gazed at himself and the body of his wife.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He hated its inquisitiveness, he shrank from its pity, desiring to be alone with his dead.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading It was a changing little crowd, never more than a dozen or so; men and women who stopped in their passing by, muttered questions, heard low answers, looked curious or pitying and moved on.