Chapter XV · Chapter 15

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

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

anew

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

in the past

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

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

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

being joined in close association

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

a feeling of affection for a person or an institution

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

support and strengthen

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

any large and important church

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

without comfort

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

tending to consume or use often wastefully

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

marked by or showing hopelessness

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

a bed with posts at the four corners that can be used to support a canopy or curtains

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

provincial capital and largest city of Nova Scotia

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

plural of “hold” — the act of grasping

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

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

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

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

From this reading Again in old quarters!

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

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

having knobs

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

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

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

used to form the superlative

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

held or filled or in use

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

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

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

and nothing more

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

housing available for people to live in

From this reading Again in old quarters!

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

Identical; not different.

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

your consciousness of your own identity

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

a just detectable amount

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

not seen or perceived

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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 There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

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

From this reading Halifax again--Hotel Waverley--"Gone the Old Familiar Faces"--The Story of Marie de la Tour.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

accept gladly

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It is strange how we become attached to a place, be it what it may, if we only have known it before.

a Caucasian

From this reading There is surely some little trace of self, some unseen spider-thread of attachment clinging to the walls, the old chair, the forlorn wash-stand, and the knobby four-poster, that holds the hardest of beds, the most consumptive of pillows, and a bolster as round, as white, and as hard, as a cathedral mass-candle.

a late time of life

From this reading The same old room we occupied years ago, however comfortless then, has a familiar air of welcome now.