Chapter XVII · The Rivalry of Love

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

set up or found

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

resembling or characteristic of a phantom

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

death of a person

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

having a usually specified type of handle

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

in a softened tone

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

plural of “marvel” — something that causes feelings of wonder

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

to certain extent or degree

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

past form of “reign” — have sovereign power

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

only a very short time before

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

resided in; having tenants

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

with tenderness; in a tender manner

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

in or at that place or location

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury)

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

precisely as stated

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

plural of “wound” — an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.