Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

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

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

past form of “cuddle” — move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

a conflict of people's opinions or actions or characters

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

having unexpected good fortune

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

in an imperceptible manner or to an imperceptible degree

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading They were pledged, as it were, to rival interests.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

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

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

above and across; more than

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

bound by or as if by an oath

From this reading They were pledged, as it were, to rival interests.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

on the contrary

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.

free from harm or evil

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

be equal to in quality or ability

From this reading They were pledged, as it were, to rival interests.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

in a softened tone

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

a garment that covers the head and face

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

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

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading An impalpable veil had come between them, a subtle dissonance in point of view.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They were pledged, as it were, to rival interests.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The Duchess to the Rescue It may be that Lord Vernon had been so fortunate as to find a topic of conversation equally absorbing; at any rate, Nell entered the hotel with her sister rather subdued and tremulous, and they mounted to their rooms in silence.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

the words that are spoken

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

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

From this reading A week before, they would probably have thrown themselves into each other's arms and kissed each other and cuddled each other and cried over each other, without precisely knowing why, or, at least, without troubling to put the reason into words.

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading But the events of the past few days had, imperceptibly, wrought a change in their relations.