Chapter II · Hush-Money

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

(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 Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

a United States youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

third-person singular of “blacken” — make or become black

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

a blemish made by dirt

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

feeling or showing worry or solicitude

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

(law) close questioning of a hostile witness in a court of law to discredit or throw a new light on the testimony already provided in direct examination

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

superlative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

manner of acting or controlling yourself

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

any of numerous small pigeons

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

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

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

divisible by two

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

at any time

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

represented as greater than is true or reasonable

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

past form of “exercise” — put to use

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

light informal conversation for social occasions

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

plural of “gossip” — light informal conversation for social occasions

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

Scottish geneticist (son of John Haldane) who contributed to the development of population genetics; a popularizer of science and a Marxist (1892-1964)

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

plural of “innuendo” — an indirect (and usually malicious) implication

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

machines or machine systems collectively

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

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

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

a local church community

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

a human being

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

having a point

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

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

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

set aside for the use of a particular person or party

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

an impression that something might be the case

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

a special situation

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Now, the thing was a long time in the air before it reached the ears of the person most concerned.

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

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

superlative of “ugly” — displeasing to the senses

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

precisely as stated

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

inflected form of “wag” — move from side to side

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.

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

From this reading As usual, however, the darkest suspicions and ugliest innuendoes were reserved for the lady; and before very long Edith Dove was the subject of as pretty a piece of scandal as ever exercised the gossips of even an English village.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Tongues wagged, fingers pointed, all the machinery of gossip was set in motion for months before poor Edith had any suspicion whatever.

at the time that

From this reading |Mrs. Haldane had not exaggerated when, in her cross-examination of the vicar, she had described his intimate friendship to Miss Dove as the common talk of the parish.

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

From this reading There beats about the life of an English clergyman a light as fierce, in its small way, as that other light which, according to the poet,= ````”... beats about the throne, ````And blackens every blot!”= Charles Santley was very much mistaken if he imagined that his doings altogether escaped scandal.