Chapter VIII

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

Having no one else present.

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

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

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

for the reason that

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

an occurrence of something

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

in a manner differing from the usual or expected

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

third-person singular of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

represented as greater than is true or reasonable

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

spectators at a golf or tennis match

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

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

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

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

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

Recollections of past events.

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

not any; not one

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

above and across; more than

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

plural of “period” — an amount of time

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

with speed

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

in the near future

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

not in physical motion

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

a following of one thing after another in time

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

in a swift manner

From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.

trying something to find out about it

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

precisely as stated

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

at the time that

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

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

From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.

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

From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.