Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

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

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

at or in the front

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

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

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

any thing at all

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

a braking device consisting of a combination of interacting parts that work to slow a motor vehicle

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

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

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

the act of burning something

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

Englishman and Cavalier poet whose lyric poetry was favored by Charles I (1595-1639)

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

travel across or pass over

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

a community of people smaller than a village

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

without deviation

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

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

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

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

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

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

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

an instinctive motive

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

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

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

and nothing more

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

set afire or burning

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

below the surround or below the normal position

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

a particular point in time

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

come to pass

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

precisely, exactly

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

protected from heat and light with shade or shadow

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.

(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

successive (without a break)

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

required or under orders

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

in or at that place or location

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.

not known

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

up to a particular time

From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.

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

From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.

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

From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.

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

From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.