used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
bindverbUS /baɪnd/
stick to firmly
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
COUNTESS-DOWAGER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COUNTESS-DOWAGER.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
exertedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrtɪd/
past form of “exert” — put to use
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
fettersnounUS /ˈfetərz/
plural of “fetter” — a shackle for the ankles or feet
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
forgedadjectiveUS /fɔːrdʒd/
reproduced fraudulently
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
Hartledon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
linkverbUS /lɪŋk/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
Mirrable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
not any; not one
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
secrecynounUS /ˈsiːkrəsi/
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COUNTESS-DOWAGER.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
at the time that
From this reading Mirrable had exerted herself to good purpose, and Mirrable was capable of it when occasion needed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
belonging to which person
From this reading The first link in the chain, whose fetters were to bind more than one victim, had been forged.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The guests had arrived, and Hartledon was alive with bustle and lights.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Link upon link; a heavy, despairing burden no hand could lift; a burden which would have to be borne for the most part in dread secrecy and silence.
