Chapter X

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

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

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

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

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

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

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

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

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

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

the past participle of “be”

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But conquering her timidity, the country-woman now interrupted:

a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

a ball of yarn or cord or thread

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

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

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

the act of conquering

From this reading But conquering her timidity, the country-woman now interrupted:

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

From this reading But conquering her timidity, the country-woman now interrupted:

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

possessive form of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

disappointingly unsuccessful

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

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

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

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

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

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

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

of the present time and place

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

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

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

a search for knowledge

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

discontinued temporarily

From this reading But conquering her timidity, the country-woman now interrupted:

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

for more time

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading "Wait a minute.

not able to be found

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

not any; not one

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

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

From this reading But conquering her timidity, the country-woman now interrupted:

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

a man who delivers the mail

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

relatively long in duration; tediously protracted

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

in the recent past

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

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

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

having a supporting base

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

not in physical motion

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

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

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

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

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions

From this reading But conquering her timidity, the country-woman now interrupted:

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

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading "Wait a minute.

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

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

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

From this reading Then they went further still and settled themselves in the parlor, as if come for a prolonged stay.

the general location where something is

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

which person or people

From this reading To the detective's inquiry whether the missing Dorothy had recently met any strangers, made acquaintances who might be able to furnish some clew to her present whereabouts--as friends of longer standing had not been able--the mother answered: "No. She was always at home or in the immediate neighborhood."

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE FLITTING Disappointed, Mrs. Chester had stepped back into her little hall, and the postman with the detective followed.