Chapter XIII

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

any thing at all

From this reading Not that there was anything to see.

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

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

plural of “crevice” — a long narrow depression in a surface

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

start firing a weapon

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

plural of “fog” — droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

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

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

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

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

the quality of being humane

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

in an idle manner

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

plural of “item” — a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

in a literal sense

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

a seasonal wind in southern Asia; blows from the southwest (bringing rain) in summer and from the northeast in winter

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

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

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not that there was anything to see.

plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

above and across; more than

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

a straight line at right angles to another line

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

plural of “railing” — a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

-ing form of “retain” — hold back within

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Not that there was anything to see.

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

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

not in physical motion

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

United States painter best known for his portraits of George Washington (1755-1828)

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

inferior in size or quality

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

possessing sweep

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Not that there was anything to see.

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

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Not that there was anything to see.

measuring instrument for measuring temperature

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

very small

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

having a tip; or having a tip as specified (used in combination)

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

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

From this reading Not that there was anything to see.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading The monsoon fogs swept past the stunted oaks, tipped over the railings, filled the verandah, crept in through the crevices, and literally sat down on the hearth-stone; for the room was too small, the thermometer too high, and humanity too poor, to allow of a fire.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

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

From this reading Not that there was anything to see.

wedged or packed in together

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

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

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

possessive form of “widow” — a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading In the tiny drawing-room of a tiny house, wedged in between a huge retaining wall and the almost perpendicular hill-side, Belle Stuart sat idly looking out of the window.

in the company of; together with

From this reading On her lap lay the newspaper filled, as usual, with items from the frontier.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.

an instance of intense argument (as in bargaining)

From this reading Without, was a soft grey vapour deadening the world; within, was a still more depressing atmosphere of women, widow's weeds, and wrangling.