Chapter XXXIII · Chapter 33

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

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

(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 There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

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

From this reading It was an evening of excitement.

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

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

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

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

plural of “chord” — a straight line connecting two points on a curve

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

capital of the state of New Hampshire; located in south central New Hampshire on the Merrimack river

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

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

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

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

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

suggestive of an elf in strangeness and otherworldliness

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading It was an evening of excitement.

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading It was an evening of excitement.

use of physical or mental energy; hard work

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

move smoothly and effortlessly

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

compatibility in opinion and action

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

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

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

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

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

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

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was an evening of excitement.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

past form of “jangle” — make a sound typical of metallic objects

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

in a joyous and gleeful manner

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

a room where books are kept

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

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

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

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

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

having a musical sound; especially a pleasing tune

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

the condition of being essential or indispensable

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

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

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was an evening of excitement.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

the brightest star in Leo

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

appearing as such but not necessarily so

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

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

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

affording physical relief

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

possessive form of “spirit” — the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

not in physical motion

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

plural of “strain” — (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

comparative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

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

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

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

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

past form of “tune” — adjust for (better) functioning

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

not having a musical sound or pleasing tune

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

not noticed

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow

From this reading Edith sang, and Margaret played some of her elfin strains, and Mr. Regulus made music leap joyously from the sounding violin.

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

From this reading It was an evening of excitement.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading It was a luxury to glide unnoticed on the stream of thought, though dark the current, and leading into troubled waters.

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

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading _My_ soul was not tuned to harmony now, but still there was something soothing in its influence, and it relieved me from the necessity of talking, the exertion of _seeming_ what I could not _be_.

which person or people

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.

belonging to which person

From this reading There was one in the lonely library who might have made sweeter music than all, whose spirit's chords were all jangled and tuneless, and whose ear seemed closed to the concord of melodious sounds.