used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
(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 “Of all the senseless bells!
aloofadjectiveUS /əˈluːf/
remote in manner
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
ANTON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
bell-ringer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
boomedverbUS /buːmd/
past form of “boom” — make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
brazenadjectiveUS /ˈbreɪzən/
unrestrained by convention or propriety
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
breathings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
at any time
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
in a gradual manner
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
gingerlyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɪndʒərli/
with extreme care or delicacy
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
grievedverbUS /ɡriːvd/
past form of “grieve” — feel grief
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
half-minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
be suspended or hanging
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
horrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəfaɪd/
stricken with horror
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
and nothing more
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
mitigatedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪtəɡeɪtɪd/
made less severe or intense
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
not any; not one
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
on one occasion
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
and nothing more
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
pausesnounUS /ˈpɔːzəz/
plural of “pause” — a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
rehearsalnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəl/
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
senselessadjectiveUS /ˈsensləs/
not marked by the use of reason
From this reading “Of all the senseless bells!
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
steeplesnounUS /ˈstiːpəlz/
plural of “steeple” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
sullenlyadverb
in a sullen manner
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
sweatingnounUS /ˈswetɪŋ/
the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But no soul of mercy is in brazen bells that hang aloof from man in lofty steeples, and this one, swung ever so gently, sullenly boomed--boomed--boomed.
tight-shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
tollnounUS /toʊl/
a fee levied for the use of roads or bridges (used for maintenance)
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
vexationnoun
anger produced by some annoying irritation
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
WantonverbUS /ˈwɔːntən/
waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
at the time that
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
winoun
a midwestern state in north central United States
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Once before he had done it just as delicately--when the Earl was dying, and the bell-ringer, uncertain of his skill to toll, when the time came, with the right half-minute pauses, grieved the town and horrified the castle by a rehearsal in the middle of a winter night.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
WULLY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANTON WULLY only briefly rang the morning bell, and gingerly, with tight-shut lips and deep nose breathings, as if its loud alarm could so be mitigated.
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading “Oh, to the devil wi' ye!” said Wanton Wully, sweating with vexation.
