Chapter IX · In Which Mischief Is Brewing

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

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

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

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

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

the act of waking

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

adult female chicken

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

possessive form of “blake” — visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

someone who provides food and service (as for a party)

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

a state at a particular time

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

prepare a hot meal

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

put on clothes

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

possessive form of “employer” — a person or firm that employs workers

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

a servant employed to do a variety of jobs

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

on the floor closest to level with the ground

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

a female domestic

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

temporary military shelter

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

making a strong or vivid impression

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

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 It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

plural of “lung” — either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

a form of address for a man

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

leave undone or leave out

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

held or filled or in use

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

a country person

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

made less in size or amount or degree

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

Identical; not different.

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

remove body hair with a razor

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

full and loud and deep

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

a run-down apartment house barely meeting minimal standards

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

the topmost one of two

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

at the time that

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

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

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.

a liquor made from fermented mash of grain

From this reading Biddy was made aware of her employer’s awakening in the fashion familiar to her for years past--by his roaring at the full stretch of his lungs for a draught of whisky.

which person or people

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading There was not a whole pane of glass or an unbroken article of furniture in the whole building, and the little plot of ground in which it stood was a wilderness of stones and weeds.

in the company of; together with

From this reading That draught despatched, he arose, and proceeded with shaking limbs to shave and dress.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The ground-floor was occupied by Blake himself; the upper portion by an ancient peasant woman, who acted as his cook, housemaid, caterer, and general factotum.

a late time of life

From this reading It was late in the forenoon of the same day when Mr. Blake rose from his bed in the tenement to which he gave the sonorous and impressive title of Blake’s Hall--a tumbledown hut of two stories, which long years of neglect had reduced to a condition of almost complete ruin.