Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

third-person singular of “ascend” — travel up

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

placed in a grave

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

an occurrence of something

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

plural of “cellar” — the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

an engagement fought between two military forces

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a person from your own country

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

permission to do something

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

the younger brother of Edwy who became king of Northumbria when it renounced Edwy; on Edwy's death he succeeded to the throne of England (944-975)

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

the act of escaping physically

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

start firing a weapon

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a medieval country in northern Europe that included regions now parts of northern France and Belgium and southwestern Netherlands

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

the act of departing

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

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

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

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

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

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

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

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

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

imposing in size or bulk or solidity

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a quantity of no importance

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

a condition requiring relief

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

being perceived or observed

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

held or filled or in use

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

witty remark

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

a geographical region of historical importance; a former duchy in what is now southwestern France, western Switzerland, and northwestern Italy

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

term of address for a man

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

block consisting of a thick piece of something

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

in or at that place or location

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

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

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

the upper part of anything

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading "Here," he said, "is a passage leading under the street; at the end it ascends, and is closed at the top by a massive panel in the hall of the house opposite.

being of use or service

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

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

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

at the time that

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

in or at the place that

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

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

From this reading "I have means of escape," the merchant said, going to the other side of the apartment, where there was a massive iron door, which they had not before noticed.

which person or people

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

in the company of; together with

From this reading When I took this house a compatriot lived there, and it was with his consent that I made the passage, which might be useful in case of need, to him as well as to me.

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

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

a late time of life

From this reading He returned to Flanders three years since, and the house has been occupied by an English trader, who knows naught of the passage, so that, at will, I can sally out by that way."

the day immediately before today

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A COMBAT IN THE TOWER "I see that you are safe against fire, sir," Edgar said, when the stone slab had descended and they had closed the door behind it; "but were the walls of the house to fall in you might be buried here, as I hear many drunken wretches were yesterday in the cellars of the Savoy."