Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

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

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

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

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

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

From this reading Still he was very happy to find himself back at Aston House.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Still he was very happy to find himself back at Aston House.

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

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

a youthful male person

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

filled to capacity

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

in conjunction with; combined

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

to say again or imitate

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

the state of containing nothing

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Still he was very happy to find himself back at Aston House.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

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

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Still he was very happy to find himself back at Aston House.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

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

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

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

From this reading Still he was very happy to find himself back at Aston House.

reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

apart from others

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

past form of “interview” — conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

the sound of laughing

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

for more time

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

held dear

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

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 Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

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

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

not any; not one

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

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

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

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

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

past form of “rearrange” — put into a new order or arrangement

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

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

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

a small room (in large old British houses) next to the kitchen; where kitchen utensils are cleaned and kept and other rough household jobs are done

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

have in common

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

reflecting light

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

very large in expanse or scope

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

not in physical motion

From this reading Still he was very happy to find himself back at Aston House.

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

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

plural of “treasure” — accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

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

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

precisely as stated

From this reading Still he was very happy to find himself back at Aston House.

the sensation caused by heat energy

From this reading Its many deserted rooms, the long, silent corridors and its strange spacious emptiness lent themselves to his robust imagination more easily than the living friendly warmth of the old house, brimful of actualities.

United States writer and poet (1905-1989)

From this reading He re-explored every corner of house and garden in the first days of return, interviewed the staff collectively and individually, from Warren the butler, to the new scullery boy.

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

From this reading At the end of February the elder Astons returned to town and Marden Court was no longer mere vague locality to Christopher, but the "home" of those he loved, the centre piece of their lives, and he had a share in it himself.

make whistling sounds

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.

inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading He rearranged his books and hunted up half-forgotten treasures, slid down the shiny banisters fifty times a day and dispelled the silent lurking shadows with a merry whistle and a laugh that woke an echo in quiet rooms.