Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

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

From this reading An old-fashioned rope-pull hung beside the postern.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

any thing at all

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

next to; at the side of

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

an impressive country house (or castle) in France

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

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

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

an entrance that can be closed by a gate

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

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

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

ten 10s

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading An old-fashioned rope-pull hung beside the postern.

not admitting of passage or capable of being affected

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

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

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

most important element

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

structure built of stone or brick by a mason

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

imposing in size or bulk or solidity

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

out of fashion

From this reading An old-fashioned rope-pull hung beside the postern.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

a small gate in the rear of a fort or castle

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

housing available for people to live in

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

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

From this reading An old-fashioned rope-pull hung beside the postern.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

except for; apart from

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

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

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

in an aggressive manner

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

doubtful or suspect

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

confined on all sides

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

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

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

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

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

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

From this reading There was a little round shutter in the postern at the height of a man's head; for aforetime the main gateway had been of massive oak, bolt-studded and impervious to anything less than cannon shot.

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

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

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

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

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

in or at the place that

From this reading Henriette dragged on this sharply, but the girls could not hear the tongue of the bell, for it struck far back in the so-called offices of the chateau, where the serving people had had their quarters before these war times had come upon the earth.

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

From this reading The two girls, arm in arm, approached the postern gate beside the wide iron grille that was never opened save for the passage of horses or a motor car.

a late time of life

From this reading The wall of masonry that surrounded the chateau was both high and thick, built four hundred years or so before for defence.