Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading Lady Mardykes was something of an artist.

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

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

a large bundle bound for storage or transport

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

an occurrence of something

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

causing dejection

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

start firing a weapon

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

plural of “friar” — a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

depressingly dark

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

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

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Lady Mardykes was something of an artist.

in the recent past

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

set afire or burning

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

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

From this reading Lady Mardykes was something of an artist.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

killed unlawfully

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

exceptional, unusual, or remarkable

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

plural of “portrait” — a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

a dissolute man in fashionable society

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

express in words

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

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

From this reading She had lighted lately, in an out-of-the-way room, upon a dozen or more old portraits.

an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

term of address for a man

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

lacking brightness or color; dull

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

precisely as stated

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

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

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

careful consideration

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading An Old Portrait Sir Bale--whom some remembered a gay and convivial man, not to say a profligate one--had grown to be a very gloomy man indeed.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The gloom of the master of the house made his very servants gloomy, and the house itself looked sombre, as if it had been startled with strange and dismal sights.

any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading There was something weighing upon his mind; and I daresay some of the good gossips of Golden Friars, had there been any materials for such a case, would have believed that Sir Bale had murdered Philip Feltram, and was now the victim of the worm and fire of remorse.