Chapter XVII · The Despair of Rufus and Lally

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

measured by an angle or by the rate of change of an angle

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

a formal public statement

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

adopted in order to deceive

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading In his astonishment and disappointment, he stood pale and speechless.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading “The gentleman came to see me, you hear.”

having or marked by confidence or assurance

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized

From this reading In his astonishment and disappointment, he stood pale and speechless.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

-ing form of “express” — give expression to

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

a man of refinement

From this reading “The gentleman came to see me, you hear.”

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

superlative of “grim” — not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading “The gentleman came to see me, you hear.”

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

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

a female domestic

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

against your will

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “The gentleman came to see me, you hear.”

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

used to form the superlative

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading In his astonishment and disappointment, he stood pale and speechless.

plural of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

past form of “recoil” — draw back, as with fear or pain

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “The gentleman came to see me, you hear.”

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

temporarily incapable of speaking

From this reading In his astonishment and disappointment, he stood pale and speechless.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading In his astonishment and disappointment, he stood pale and speechless.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

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

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

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

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

disposed to warfare or hard-line policies

From this reading At the grim and warlike announcement of Mrs. Peters’ identity, delivered in Mrs. Peters’ grimmest and most warlike manner, Rufus Black recoiled involuntarily, his face expressing his utter amazement.

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You may go down, Mary,” said Mrs. Peters to the housemaid.

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

From this reading He had felt confident that this angular and sour-visaged woman was Miss Wroat, and that his deserted young wife was in the woman’s employ, under the assumed name of Mrs. Peters.