Chapter XXIX · The Black Christmas

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

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

equally

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

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

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

completed to perfection

From this reading And in the midst of the snowstorm Henshaw’s prediction was fulfilled.

the workplace where coal gas is manufactured

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

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

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

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

From this reading And in the midst of the snowstorm Henshaw’s prediction was fulfilled.

intense and profound fear

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

refuse to acknowledge

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

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

From this reading And in the midst of the snowstorm Henshaw’s prediction was fulfilled.

plural of “lamplighter” — (when gas was used for streetlights) a person who lights and extinguishes streetlights

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

plural of “lighter” — a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

having abundant light or illumination

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

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

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

the force of workers available

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading And in the midst of the snowstorm Henshaw’s prediction was fulfilled.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

-ing form of “muffle” — suppress in order to conceal or hide

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)

From this reading And in the midst of the snowstorm Henshaw’s prediction was fulfilled.

in the near future

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

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

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

cover as if with a shroud

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds

From this reading And in the midst of the snowstorm Henshaw’s prediction was fulfilled.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

(Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

not in physical motion

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

put down by force or intimidation

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

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

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading The elements ignore, and thus subdue, the rage of men.

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

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation

From this reading The lighters of London--the men at the gasworks and electric lighting stations--threw down their tools; the lamplighters “struck,” and presently a great horror of darkness fell on the distracted citizens.

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

From this reading And in the midst of the snowstorm Henshaw’s prediction was fulfilled.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The hours went on, and the snow still fell, deadening the sounds of night, muffling the city in a mighty shroud.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Wind alone would not have cleared the streets, but wind and snow together drove loiterers and roisterers alike to shelter.