Chapter I

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

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

anew

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

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

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

without stop or interruption

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

dearly loved

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

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

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

an impression made from an etched plate

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

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

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

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

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

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

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

the act of bringing two things into contact (especially for communication)

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

and nothing more

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

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

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

immediately past

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

staying power

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

easily agitated

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

no person; not anyone

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

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

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

toned down

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

not in physical motion

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

act of expanding by lengthening or widening

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "But people must have thought a great deal about it," said Sylvia, at last.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

past form of “tint” — color lightly

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading He did not move again for some time, and his ward continued to scrutinize Dürer’s Knight.

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

From this reading It was the one known as ’The Knight, Death, and the Devil,’ and she had just received it from her guardian as a birthday present.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.

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

From this reading "My dear," answered Colonel Wimpole, stretching out his still graceful legs, leaning back in his chair, and slowly joining his nervous but handsome hands, "nobody knows."

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading "I wonder what he meant by it," said Sylvia, turning again in her chair, so that the summer light, softened and tinted by the drawn blinds, might fall upon the etching she held.