Chapter IX

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

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

later than; following

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

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

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

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

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

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

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

plural of “beauty” — the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

a female human offspring

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

cause to be slowed down or delayed

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

put on clothes

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

opinion or judgment

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

a young female

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

past form of “illumine” — make lighter or brighter

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

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

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

comparative of “mean” — approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

in a radiant manner

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

shaped like a ring

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

move upward

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

payment to the holder of a patent or copyright or resource for the right to use their property

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

censure severely or angrily

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

in a clever manner

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

not in physical motion

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

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

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

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

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

the starting point for a new state or experience

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

the extreme end of something; especially something pointed

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

not admitting of pardon

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

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

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

at the time that

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

a Caucasian

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

in the company of; together with

From this reading It had been on the tip of her mother's tongue to scold the girl for her delay, since to be late was an almost unpardonable offense, with Royalty in the house.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She stood for an instant without speaking, her face so radiantly beautiful that it seemed illumined by a light from within.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading THE first and second dressing-gongs had sounded at Schloss Lynarberg on the evening of the day after Otto's visit to his brother, and the Grand Duchess was beginning to wonder what detained her daughter, when ringed fingers tapped smartly at the door.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading "Come in!" she answered the familiar sound, and Sylvia appeared on the threshold, still in the tennis dress she had worn that afternoon.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A WHITE NIGHT "You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light, You common people of the skies--- What are you when the moon shall rise?"