Chapter IV

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

(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 For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

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

From this reading For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

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

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

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

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

plural of “answer” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

From this reading For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

past form of “canvass” — get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions

From this reading For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

the time of person's life when they are a child

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

lying toward or situated in the east

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

set up or found

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

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

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

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

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

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 At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

plural of “maple” — wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

not fanciful or imaginative

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

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

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

with low volume

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

not often

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

only a very short time before

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

move stealthily

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading For such an occasion all my questions were prepared, and all the answers canvassed.

plural of “tale” — 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 Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

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

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

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

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

not yet used or soiled

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

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

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

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

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.

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

From this reading Foolish tales, of course, were told about it; but my frequent visits found nothing to confirm them.

at any time that; every time that

From this reading At night, whenever I could slip from the care of good but matter-of-fact Ann Maples, I used to wander down the long corridor, and squeeze through the iron gate now set there, half in hope and half in fear of meeting my father’s spirit.

a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)

From this reading The eastern wing of the house was left unused, and rarely traversed by any but myself.

a late time of life

From this reading My life--childhood I can scarcely call it--went quietly for several years.