Since

Whoops - see below.

This comes from Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" written in 1820. The language has changed a lot since then. At that time "since" could be used to mean "ago",. as your dictionary says. I don't think there's any other meaning intended here. Another example, dated 1862, quoted by the Oxford dictionary : He went out a little while since.

Thanks Susan. That alarms me that I have picked up the wrong book for my reading practice.

I take it from that that you're a learner of English? Congratulations - I'd never have guessed from your original message. But, if your main aim in reading is language improvement (rather than an interest in literature, or just wanting to read a good story) I'd always suggest you choose contemporary works. Thrillers are good at an advanced level because they tend to contain a lot of dialogue and more colloquial language. That's how I keep my French going .... (actually, it's also a good excuse to read stuff like John Grisham and Robert Ludlum which I'd feel guilty about reading in English ....)

Yes, English is my second language, and currently my focus is more on written/formal English. My aim is to further extend my vocabulary and broaden my familiarity with more complicated sentence styles. I am currently reading these:

1- Elster's "Verbal Advantage"
2- A (rather heretical) book named "Reason in Revolt - Dialectical philosophy ..." which I think has a fluent language, and is turning out to be a collection of the words I have memorized for GRE!
3- New York Times!

These are the best resources I could find.

thnx for that knowledgeable discussion .

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Um excuse me but "since" in that sentence does not mean "ago!"

The use of since means;

That several years (undefined) after "the reign of the Dutch governors" he published a historical research document.

Ago does not come into the question ..... sorry!

Rob