Chapter III

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

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

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

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

(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 It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

Having no one else present.

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

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

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

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

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

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

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading KENELM EYRLE.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

made afraid

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

assemble or get together

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

only a very short time before

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

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

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

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

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

requiring attention or action

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

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

From this reading KENELM EYRLE.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

below the surround or below the normal position

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

kill intentionally and with premeditation

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

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

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

according to the clock

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

on one occasion

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

the time that has elapsed

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

past form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

a crosspiece between the legs of a chair

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

from a time in the past until now

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

term of address for a man

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

completely cold

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

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

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

a gymnast who performs rolls and somersaults and twists etc.

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid

From this reading It was past ten o’clock now, and the silent gloom seemed to gather in intensity, when suddenly there came a fierce ring at the hall door, so fierce, so imperative, so vehement that one and all the frightened servants sprang up, and the old housekeeper, with folded hands, prayed, “Lord have mercy on us!”

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading His servants spoke of him in lowered voices, for since the terrible day of the murder the master of Aldenmere had hardly tasted food.

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

From this reading It was the night before the funeral, and Sir Ronald sat in his study alone.

at the time that

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

a Caucasian

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.

in the company of; together with

From this reading More than once he had rung the bell, and, when it was answered, with white lips and stone-cold face, he had asked for a tumbler of brandy.