Chapter XVIII · An Elizabethan Ancestor

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

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Meg laughed, and clinked the key against the iron bars.

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

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

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

From this reading Meg laughed, and clinked the key against the iron bars.

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

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights

From this reading Meg laughed, and clinked the key against the iron bars.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

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

From this reading Meg laughed, and clinked the key against the iron bars.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

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

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

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

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

separated into parts or pieces

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

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

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

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

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

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 Meg laughed, and clinked the key against the iron bars.

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Meg laughed, and clinked the key against the iron bars.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

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

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

release, as from one's grip

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

in a rueful manner

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

being ten more than fifty

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

having your attention fixated as though by a spell

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

-ing form of “storm” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

changing location by moving back and forth

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading "Close on an hour," replied Dan, ruefully; "I never passed so tedious a sixty minutes in my life."

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

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

From this reading Meg laughed, and clinked the key against the iron bars.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

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

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

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

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

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

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

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

From this reading Dan felt as though he were on the eve of storming an enchanted castle to release a spellbound princess.

at the time that

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

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

From this reading She was on one side of the gate, and he was on the other, but they could see and smile, which was a better fate than befell Pyramus and Thisbe when divided by that cruel wall.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Have you been waiting long?" asked Meg, swinging a large key.