Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

matters of personal concern

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

later than; following

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

plural of “annoyance” — the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

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

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

growing close together but not in dense mats

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

avoiding emotional involvement

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

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

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

set up or found

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

a young female

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

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

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

a high place

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

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

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

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

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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

From this reading From the top of the hill she surveyed her little world.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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 G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

-ing form of “minister” — attend to the wants and needs of others

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

outside a building

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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

From this reading From the top of the hill she surveyed her little world.

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

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

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

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

a state of social isolation

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way

From this reading From the top of the hill she surveyed her little world.

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

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

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

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

the upper part of anything

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

the topmost one of two

From this reading To her the heights had always meant escape, for in the upper air and in solitude she found detachment--a sort of heavenly perspective upon the affairs of the common day.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

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

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

in or at the place that

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

a Caucasian

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading It was good to be outdoors after the countless annoyances of the day; to feel the earth springing beneath her step, the keen, crisp air bringing the colour to her cheeks, and the silence of the woods ministering to her soul.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading From the top of the hill she surveyed her little world.

a late time of life

From this reading Where the small white houses clustered in the valley, far below her, she had spent her five-and-twenty years, shut in by the hills, and, more surely, by the iron bars of circumstance.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York and London The Knickerbocker Press [Sidenote: From the Top of the Hill] The girl paused among the birches and drew a long breath of relief.