used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
wanted intensely
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
having the place or position changed
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
forbadeverbUS /fərˈbeɪd/
inflected form of “forbid” — command against
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
GauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
depressingly dark
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
GriffithnounUS /ˈɡrɪfəθ/
United States film maker who was the first to use flashbacks and fade-outs (1875-1948)
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
Hernshaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
insultnounUS /ˌɪnˈsʌlt/
a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
From this reading "This last insult is known but to you and me.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This last insult is known but to you and me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
immediately past
From this reading "This last insult is known but to you and me.
LeicesternounUS /ˈlestər/
a largely agricultural county in central England
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "This last insult is known but to you and me.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
of an obscure nature
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
retireverbUS /rɪˈtaɪr/
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
Ryder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
express in words
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
your consciousness of your own identity
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Pale, gloomy, and silent, the mistress of Hernshaw Castle moved about the place like the ghost of her former self.
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
strictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
express in words
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Ryder made one or two attempts to draw her out upon the subject, but was sternly checked.
communicated in words
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This mysterious circumstance made a great talk in the village, and in the kitchen of Hernshaw Castle; but not in the drawing-room: for Mrs. Gaunt instantly closed her door to visitors, and let it be known that it was her intention to retire to a convent; and, in the meantime, she desired not to be disturbed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She never mentioned Griffith; forbade his name to be uttered in her hearing; and, strange to say, gave Ryder strict orders not to tell any one what she had heard from Thomas Leicester.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "This last insult is known but to you and me.
