Chapter XIX

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

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

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

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

in a state of sleep

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The prison had not been modernized.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

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

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

let fall to the ground

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

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 It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

the organ of sight

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

plural of “fetter” — a shackle for the ankles or feet

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

befitting a man of good breeding

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

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

From this reading The prison had not been modernized.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

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

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

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

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

a short coat

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

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

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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 It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

imposing in size or bulk or solidity

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

brought up to date

From this reading The prison had not been modernized.

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

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The prison had not been modernized.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

out of fashion

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

above and across; more than

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

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

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

offering safety; well protected or concealed

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

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

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Nor was it a snug, free-stone, gentlemanly house, with big fetters and a figure of Justice over the door, looking half asleep under her bandage, and ready to drop both scales and sword.

without meaning

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

plural of “victim” — an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

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

From this reading It was in a cell of the prison of S----.

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

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

in or at the place that

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

a Caucasian

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading It was an old-fashioned English prison--not a bit the better for that--heavy, massive, soiled with the smoke of manufactories, and turning its black unmeaning shoulder to the street, with one window looking out, like the eye of Polyphemus, over the huge mouth-like door, where so many victims went in.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was not a red brick building picked out with white: a gaol in a harlequin's jacket.