Chapter XI

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

later than; following

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading WILHELMINA I. AND II.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

any thing at all

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

the lower side of anything

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

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

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

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

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

bringing death

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

inflected form of “foresee” — realize beforehand

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

foreshadow or presage

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading WILHELMINA I. AND II.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading WILHELMINA I. AND II.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

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

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

immediately past

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

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 She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

and nothing more

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

the time at which something is supposed to begin

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

inflected form of “prophesy” — predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

freed from illness or injury

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

cut with a saw

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

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

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

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

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

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

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading This was before she became very ill; after that took place Polly did not prophesy anything; the cousins only looked at one another in silence.

precisely as stated

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

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

From this reading But it seemed so impossible: Miss Brownlow only slipped down the last four or five of the cellar-stairs; Jane was getting coals at the time, and declared she saw her and could swear it was not more than five steps.

at the time that

From this reading She must have struck her head on the corner at the bottom, for it was so long before she recovered consciousness, and she seemed to so wander in her mind when she did recover.

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

From this reading WILHELMINA I. AND II.

the least favorable outcome

From this reading Polly always declared she foresaw the end from the very beginning of the affair, and certainly at the outset of Miss Brownlow’s illness she prophesied fatal results; but then she always did foretell the worst, and Bella said she did not believe her, though she sobbed as she said it.