Chapter XXX

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

(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 A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

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

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

past form of “blunder” — commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

in a physically fierce manner

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

set down according to a plan

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

take somebody somewhere

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

the act of departing

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

filled with a great quantity

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

above and across; more than

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

a false or unsupportable quality

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

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

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

express in speech

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

unbearable physical pain

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

a source of difficulty

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

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

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

at the time that

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

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

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading “Don’t speak above a whisper,” said one of them fiercely, putting his lips close to my ear.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading But why all that trouble had been taken when I was already in their power and, above and beyond all, why she should have given me a loaded revolver, was utterly baffling.

a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

From this reading An electric lamp was flashed in my face and the sudden light set me blinking and winking like an owl.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.

be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy

From this reading I had not more than a minute or two to worry over that, however, for my captors dragged me in silence to a room close by, which, like the rest of the house, was in darkness.

an instance of intense argument (as in bargaining)

From this reading A NIGHT OF TORMENT My first thought when I was seized so suddenly in the darkness was that a fresh trap had been laid for me and that I had blundered into it; and that all the fierce wrangling between Inez and Barosa in my presence had been mere pretence, to lead up to her saying what she had about my leaving the house with Miralda.