Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

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

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

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

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

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

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

befitting or characteristic of a young boy

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

the particular occupation for which you are trained

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

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

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

plural of “dinner” — the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

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

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

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

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

experiencing joy and pleasure

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

comparative of “harsh” — unpleasantly stern

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

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

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

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

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

the sound of laughing

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

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

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

not any; not one

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

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

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

weighing heavily on the senses or spirit

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

(of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

past form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

with low volume

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

impressive in appearance

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

not in physical motion

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Her husband was grown suddenly prematurely old and his speech was less frequent and harsher than before.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

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

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

in or at that place or location

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

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

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot

From this reading Frances Allan, fair and graceful still, though looking somewhat out of health and "broken," as her friends remarked to one another, trod softly about the stately rooms with no song on her lip, no gladness in her step.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.

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

From this reading In the Allan mansion, in Richmond, there was a stillness that was oppressive.

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

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

at the time that

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There were handsome and formal dinners occasionally, when some elderly, distinguished stranger was entertained, but there were no more merry dancing parties, with old Cy playing the fiddle and calling the figures.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading No young foot-falls sounded upon the stair; no boyish laughter rang out in rooms or hall.