Chapter XX

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

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

(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 “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

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

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

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

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Poor Mackie, if he could have taken her at her word!

plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

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

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

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

From this reading Poor Mackie, if he could have taken her at her word!

An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

an abrupt excited utterance

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

past form of “flare” — burn brightly

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

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

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

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

From this reading Poor Mackie, if he could have taken her at her word!

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

past form of “hood” — cover with a hood

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Poor Mackie, if he could have taken her at her word!

a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

set afire or burning

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

engage in

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

the force of workers available

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

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

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

and nothing more

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

capable of being perceived; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Poor Mackie, if he could have taken her at her word!

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

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

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

term of address for a man

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

closely encircling

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Poor Mackie, if he could have taken her at her word!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

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

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

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

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

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

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

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

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

plural of “wench” — informal terms for a (young) woman

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading LADY BETTY’S SEARCH THOUGH the stars were out, the night was black as pitch and the courtyard of the inn was only lighted by the broad bands of red that flared across it from the gaping doors of hall and kitchen, serving to make the surrounding darkness more palpable.

at the time that

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He took them for kitchen wenches, and when Lady Betty cried out his name, he stopped short with a gasp of sheer amazement.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Poor Mackie, if he could have taken her at her word!

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Oh, Sir Edward, ’twas you—of all men—I wanted to see!” she cried.

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

From this reading So it was that Lady Betty and Alice—cloaked and hooded—nearly stumbled against young Mackie, and would not have known him but for his exclamation of impatience.