Chapter XXIX · Telling Alice

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

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

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

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

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

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

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

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

rid of obstructions

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

a special loved one

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

move deeply

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

with eagerness; in an eager manner

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

an old word for “before”

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

apart from; not including

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

easily broken or damaged or destroyed

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

possessive form of “girl” — a young female

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

plural of “glory” — a state of high honor

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

death of a person

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

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

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

filled or abounding with fog or mist

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

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

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

the act of retaining something

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

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 For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

in order that something should not happen

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

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

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

of or relating to or venerating the Virgin Mary

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

a particular point in time

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

without a sound

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

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

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

above and across; more than

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

of momentous or ominous significance

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

inflected form of “prophesy” — predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

be shown or be found to be

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

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

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

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

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

a person suffering from an illness

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

carry out

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

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

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

in or at that place or location

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

precisely as stated

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

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

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

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

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

in or at the place that

From this reading One by one the bright November days went by and the hazy Indian Summer light faded from the Kentucky hills, where now the December sun was shining cold and clear.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

during the time that

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

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

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

which person or people

From this reading And as the weeks passed away, there hung over Redstone Hall a dark, portentous cloud, and they who had waited so eagerly the coming of the holidays trembled lest the merry Christmas song should prove a funeral dirge for the pet and darling of them all.

belonging to which person

From this reading Noiselessly Marian trod across the floor, holding back her breath and speaking in soft whispers, lest she should disturb the little sufferer whose side she never for a moment left except to take the rest she absolutely needed.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

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

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Alice was dying, so the physician said, while Dinah, too, had prophesied that ere the New Year came the eyes which never in this world had looked upon the light would be opened to the glories of the better land.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading For many weary days and nights the fever flame had burned in the young girl’s veins, but it had left her now, and like a fragile lily she lay among her pillows, talking of Heaven and the grave as something very near to her.