Chapter VII · Chapter 7

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

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

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

carefully weighed

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

well in the past; former

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

twice as great or many

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

a movement into or inward

From this reading The door opened, and entering, she stood rooted to the spot.

being the right size and shape to fit as desired

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

immediately past

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

fasten with a lock

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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 BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

on one occasion

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading The door opened, and entering, she stood rooted to the spot.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

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

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

absolutely still

From this reading The door opened, and entering, she stood rooted to the spot.

plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The door opened, and entering, she stood rooted to the spot.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The door opened, and entering, she stood rooted to the spot.

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

furnishing support and encouragement

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

past form of “treble” — sing treble

From this reading Had her poor little room doubled its size and trebled its furniture?

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading The rail of the banisters lay cold but supporting under the pressure of her weary hand, and, at her own door at last, she fitted the key in the lock.

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

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

United States novelist (1862-1937)

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

disposed or inclined toward

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading BY FRANCIS WILLING WHARTON The stairs were long and dark; they seemed to stretch an interminable length, and she was too tired to notice the soft carpet and wonder why Mrs. Wilson had departed from her iron-clad rules and for once considered the comfort of her lodgers.

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

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading Something was wrong; it would not turn; she drew it out and tried the handle.