past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
dejectionnoun
a state of melancholy depression
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
diminishverbUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
decrease in size, extent, or range
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
having the place or position changed
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
impressiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpresɪv/
making a strong or vivid impression
From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
intimationnounUS /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/
an indirect suggestion
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.
used to form the superlative
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
pent-upadjective
characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
the possibility of future success
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
troopersnounUS /ˈtruːpərz/
plural of “trooper” — a soldier in a motorized army unit
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
at the time that
From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
