Chapter III

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

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

tired of the world

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading There were flutterings in the dark, whisperings, and hurried footsteps.

causing mental discomfort

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

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

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

divisible by two

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

at any time

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

to a faint degree or weakly perceived

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

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

From this reading There were flutterings in the dark, whisperings, and hurried footsteps.

plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading There were flutterings in the dark, whisperings, and hurried footsteps.

a feeling of evil to come

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

an outbuilding (or part of a building) for housing automobiles

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste

From this reading There were flutterings in the dark, whisperings, and hurried footsteps.

past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

engage in

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

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

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

easily agitated

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

not any; not one

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

a judge of a probate court

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

plural of “recess” — a state of abeyance or suspended business

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

plural of “staircase” — a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were flutterings in the dark, whisperings, and hurried footsteps.

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

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

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

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

not set afire or burning

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He was by no means a nervous man, and in the ordinary way an experience of this sort would probably have amused him faintly, had it not bored him.

strikingly out of the ordinary

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.

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

From this reading There were flutterings in the dark, whisperings, and hurried footsteps.

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

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

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

From this reading There were flutterings in the dark, whisperings, and hurried footsteps.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But on this particular night and in this house, which had impressed him with such a curious sense of foreboding ever since he had first seen it from the drive, he was distinctly uneasy.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading To make matters worse, he had entirely lost sight of Meggie.

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

From this reading In the Garage The weirdness of the great stone staircases and unlit recesses was even more disquieting than Abbershaw had imagined it would be.