Chapter IX

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

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

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

appointed to a post or duty

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

having help; often used as a combining form

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

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

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

softened by the addition of cushions or padding

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

mark as different

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

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

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

start firing a weapon

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

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

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

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

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

immediately past

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

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 I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

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

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

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

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

on one occasion

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

in the near future

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

pen made from a bird's feather

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

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

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

be seated

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

express in speech

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters:

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

hard to endure

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

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

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

to no avail

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

Risen from sleep; conscious.

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

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

From this reading The Buford mansion reached, I was at once assisted to my room, and put to bed, a special servant being assigned to attend upon me.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading A week later I was able to sit up each morning in a cushioned chair before my cheerful fire, and presently to walk about my room.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading I spent many of my waking hours listening to the voices which floated up to me from the lower floor, trying to distinguish Nelly's gay sweet tones among them.

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

From this reading Now and then I recognized a light footfall, as she flitted past my door, and hoped vainly that she would stop to speak to me.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading At last I grew desperate, demanded paper and quill of my man, Hector, and wrote this in scrawling characters: