Chapter XX

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

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

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

From this reading Abbershaw touched his companion’s arm.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading ‘We might take him by surprise.’

any plant of the genus Silene

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading Abbershaw touched his companion’s arm.

plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

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

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

the act of departing

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading ‘We might take him by surprise.’

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

From this reading Abbershaw touched his companion’s arm.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

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

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

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

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

set afire or burning

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading ‘We might take him by surprise.’

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

except for; apart from

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

plural of “sconce” — a shelter or screen providing protection from enemy fire or from the weather

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading ‘We might take him by surprise.’

carry out

From this reading ‘We might take him by surprise.’

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.

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

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

having come into contact

From this reading Abbershaw touched his companion’s arm.

in an unnatural way

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The Round-Up As Abbershaw and Campion made their way slowly down the staircase to the first floor, the house seemed to be unnaturally silent.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading ‘We might take him by surprise.’

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

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

at the time that

From this reading The candles in the iron sconces had not been lighted, and the corridors were quite dark save for a faint greyness here and there when the open doors of a room permitted the faint light of the stars to penetrate into the gloom.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading ‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered.