Chapter XIV · Driven to Desperation

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “My ward has been missing since yesterday.

call upon in supplication; entreat

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

propose a payment

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

object formed by a mold

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

a vault or building where corpses or bones are deposited

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

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

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

opinion or judgment

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

death of a person

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

highest in quality

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “My ward has been missing since yesterday.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

any entry into an area not previously occupied

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

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

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

a public toilet for men

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

not able to be found

From this reading “My ward has been missing since yesterday.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “My ward has been missing since yesterday.

newly made

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

happening every night

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

throughout a period of time

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

accept an excuse for

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

wet with secreted or exuded moisture such as sweat or tears

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading SHAKESPEARE.

plural of “shank” — a cut of meat (beef or veal or mutton or lamb) from the upper part of the leg

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

cover as if with a shroud

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “My ward has been missing since yesterday.

plural of “skull” — the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

a state of acute pain

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

not stained

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading “My ward has been missing since yesterday.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

in the company of; together with

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

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

From this reading O, shut me nightly in a charnel house, O’er covered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, With reeking shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave And hide me with a dead man in his shroud— Things that to hear them told have made me tremble— And I will do them without fear or doubt To live unstained.

the day immediately before today

From this reading “My ward has been missing since yesterday.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Have you seen—have you heard——” “She is safe, Colonel de Crespigney.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion, but—I am suffering great—the greatest anxiety!” he began, casting his eyes around the room.