Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

-ing form of “acknowledge” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

how long something has existed

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

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

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

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

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

a receptacle for the ash from smokers' cigars or cigarettes

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

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

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

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

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

a period of 100 years

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

past form of “compliment” — say something to someone that expresses praise

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

without stop or interruption

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

traveling across

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

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

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

past form of “exhale” — expel air

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

past form of “extract” — remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

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

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

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

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

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 strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

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

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

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

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

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

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

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

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

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

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

past form of “inhale” — draw deep into the lungs in by breathing

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

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

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

and nothing more

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

provided with artificial light

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

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

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

engage in

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

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

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

informal terms for a mother

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

on one occasion

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

above and across; more than

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

(of plans, ideas, etc.) perfectly formed

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

by chance

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

commodities offered for sale

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

gathered for protruding fullness

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

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

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

express in words

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

plural of “spectator” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

successive (without a break)

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

a practical method or art applied to some particular task

From this reading "One of the mysteries of history," he continued, "how a simple technique, like making a good cigar or a good mummy, can be lost once it's been perfected.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

express gratitude or show appreciation to

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

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

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

plural of “tourist” — someone who travels for pleasure

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

position 20 in a countable series of things

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

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

From this reading He bent over and extracted a thick black cigar, struck a match, lit the cigar, puffed several times, dropped the match into a gigantic ashtray made of marble, or something that looked like marble, puffed several more times, finally inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before he turned and nodded at his two spectators.

a combatant who is able to defeat rivals

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

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

From this reading "You make better cigars than we do, I'll say that for the twentieth century," he complimented Victor in the manner of all tourists, as if Victor himself were the cause and not the product of his age.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading * * * * * He strode across the room crossing in front of them without turning his head or acknowledging their presence and made straight for the buffet in the opposite corner.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Thank you, perhaps just one more," Victor said as Donald Fairfield came into the room.