Chapter XXIX

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

later than; following

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

(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 were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

given as a task

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

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

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

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

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

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

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

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

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

having or covered with or accompanied by blood

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

with brightness

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

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

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

plural of “dew” — water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

an unchanging intonation

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

divisible by two

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

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

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

opinion or judgment

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

plural of “gnat” — any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

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

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

plural of “lichen” — any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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 All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

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

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

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

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

on one occasion

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

carry out or perform an action

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

by chance

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

a small lake

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

past form of “screen” — test or examine for the presence of disease or infection

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

being all around the edges; enclosing

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

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

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

having a supporting base

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

hair resembling thatched roofing material

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

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

From this reading It was a fit haunt for a murderer; and before the door appeared Richard de Ashby, a few moments after he had parted from his fell companions, sending them onward to perform the bloody task he had allotted them.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

a person who changes location

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

detrimental to physical or moral well-being

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

in a vacant manner

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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

From this reading There was a low deserted house, standing far back from the road, in a piece of common ground skirting the forest between Lindwell and Nottingham.

any plant that crowds out cultivated plants

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

in or at the place that

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

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

From this reading There were some trees before it, and some bushes, which screened all but the thatched roof from observation as the traveller passed along.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.

work made of wood; especially moldings or stairways or furniture

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading All the woodwork had been carried away, and part even of the thatch, so that a more desolate and miserable place could not be met with, perhaps, in all the world, though, at that time, there was many a deserted house in England; and many a hearth, which had once blazed brightly amidst a circle of happy faces, was then dark and cold.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading There was a dull pond, too, covered with green weed, between it and the trees, which, exhaling unwholesome dews, covered the front of the miserable-looking place with yellow lichens, and filled the air with myriads of droning gnats: and there it stood, with the holes, where door and window had been, gaping vacantly, like the places of eyes and nose in a dead man's skull.