Chapter XXXVI

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

past form of “abrogate” — revoke formally

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading Will had seen his mother arrive.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

a small house with a single story

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

an urgent or peremptory request

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

the act of discovering something

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

on a floor below

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

destroyed or killed

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading Will had seen his mother arrive.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

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

From this reading Will had seen his mother arrive.

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading He went out hurriedly, and with a sense of stealth and panic.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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 If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

a particular point in time

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Will had seen his mother arrive.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

and nothing more

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He went out hurriedly, and with a sense of stealth and panic.

an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading He went out hurriedly, and with a sense of stealth and panic.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

concerned with actual use or practice

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

express in words

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Will had seen his mother arrive.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading He went out hurriedly, and with a sense of stealth and panic.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

avoiding detection by moving carefully

From this reading He went out hurriedly, and with a sense of stealth and panic.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

not in physical motion

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

express in words

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

in or at that place or location

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

not fully understood

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

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

From this reading He was coming downstairs at the moment, and he heard her voice, and could hear her say, "Tell him it is his mother," and fright had seized him.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading He went out hurriedly, and with a sense of stealth and panic.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

at the time that

From this reading If it had been hard to tell her of the discovery he had made before he left the Cottage, it was twenty times harder now, when he had discussed it with other people, and taken practical steps about it.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

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

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Will had seen his mother arrive.

in the company of; together with

From this reading If only three days could have been abrogated, and he could have gone to her in his old careless way, to demand an account of why she had come!--but there stood up before him a ghost of what he had been doing--a ghost of uncomprehended harm and mischief, which now for the first time showed to him, not in its real light, but still with an importance it had never taken before.