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 And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

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

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

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

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

plural of “armchair” — chair with a support on each side for arms

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

inflected form of “breed” — call forth

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

a period of 100 years

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

elegant and stylish

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

plural of “comb” — a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

being joined in close association

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

-ing form of “consist” — originate

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

undisciplined and unruly

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

plural of “drawback” — the quality of being a hindrance

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

without enthusiasm; in a half-hearted manner

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

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

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

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

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

all of the same or similar kind or nature

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

an occurrence of something

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

(chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

an interconnected system of things or people

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

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

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

an insufficient quantity or number

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

by chance

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

plural of “pin” — a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

on the contrary

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

a secretary whose main duty is to answer the telephone and receive visitors

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading _"Every century has its advantages and its drawbacks," he said.

plural of “serve” — (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

of or relating to or characterized by sexuality

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

small or little relative to something else

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

dependable

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

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

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

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

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

the time of life between 20 and 30

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

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

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We, for instance, have bred out sexual desire.

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

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

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

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

possessive form of “york” — the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.

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

From this reading The room into which the office door, which is of opaque glass, opens, is the smaller of the two and serves to house a receptionist, three not-too-comfortable armchairs, and a disorderly, homogeneous mixture of _Life's_, _Look's_ and _New Yorker's_.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And, as for you people ..."_ On the sixty-third floor of the Empire State Building is, among others of its type, a rather small office consisting of two rooms connected by a stout wooden door.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading The receptionist is a young woman, half-heartedly pretty but certainly chic in the manner of New York's women in general and of its working women in particular, perhaps in her middle twenties, with a paucity of golden hair which is kept clinging rather back on her skull by an intricate network of tortoise-shell combs and invisible pins.