Chapter VI · Chapter 6

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

a feeling of delight at being entertained

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

someone who offers opposition

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

bewildering or striking dumb with wonder

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

quick and energetic

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But this man—?”

an occurrence of something

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

an act of explaining that serves to clear up and cast light on

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.

at any time

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

(of e.g. fabric design) adorned with patterns

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

plural of “good” — benefit

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

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

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

a single distinct event

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

of an obscure nature

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

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

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

immediately past

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

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

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “But this man—?”

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

used to form the superlative

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

trouble or confusion resulting from complexity

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

without speaking

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

a male human offspring

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

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

From this reading “But this man—?”

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.

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

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

make an effort or attempt

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

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

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

during the time that

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.

which person or people

From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”

the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.