used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
move towards
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
being joined in close association
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
a line of approach
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
bowersnounUS /ˈbaʊərz/
plural of “bower” — a framework that supports climbing plants
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
cedarsnounUS /ˈsiːdərz/
plural of “cedar” — any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
without deviation
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
divisible by two
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
set up or found
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
freshlyadverbUS /ˈfreʃli/
very recently
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
brought together in one place
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
only a very short time before
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
ivynounUS /ˈaɪvi/
Old World vine with lobed evergreen leaves and black berrylike fruits
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
lustnounUS /lʌst/
a strong sexual desire
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
moss-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
not any; not one
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
odorousadjectiveUS /ˈoʊdərəs/
having odor or a characteristic odor
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
presidedverbUS /prɪˈzaɪdɪd/
past form of “preside” — act as president
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
sapverbUS /sæp/
deplete
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
cut with a saw
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
shinglenounUS /ˈʃɪŋɡəl/
building material used as siding or roofing
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
transport commercially
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
not in physical motion
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
sunrisenounUS /ˈsʌnraɪz/
the first light of day
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
TAPPAHANNOCK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
towelnounUS /ˈtaʊəl/
a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
troughnounUS /trɔːf/
a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
unpretentiousadjectiveUS /ˌʌnpriˈtenʃəs/
lacking pretension or affectation
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Before the war the place had been probably a comfortable, unpretentious country mansion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day was breaking clear, but in the fine golden light the house and lawn appeared even more desolate than they had done under the full moon.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE RETURN TO TAPPAHANNOCK At sunrise he came out of the barn, and washed his face and hands at the well, where he found a coarse towel on the moss-covered trough.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the end of the avenue six great trees had fallen a sacrifice, he saw now, to the mere lust for timber--for freshly cut and still odorous with sap, the huge trunks lay directly across the approach over which they had presided through the tragic history of the house.
a late time of life
From this reading Some simple dignity still attached to its bowers of ivy and its ancient cedars, but it was easy to imagine that for thirty years no shingle had been added to its crumbling roof, and hardly a ship gathered from the littered walk before the door.
