Chapter I

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

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

anew

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

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

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

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

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

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

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

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

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

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

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; “Great Britain” is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

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

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

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

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

slightly wet

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

confined on all sides

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

marked by eager anticipation

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

opinion or judgment

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

-ing form of “fidget” — move restlessly

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

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

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

a long fixed look

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

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

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

prudent

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

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

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

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

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

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

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

with impatience; in an impatient manner

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

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

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

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

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

with jealousy

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

superlative of “little” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

in motion

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

the line that appears to bound an object

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

offensive inquisitiveness

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

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

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

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

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

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

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

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

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

plural of “spear” — a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

confined on all sides

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

in or at that place or location

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

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

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading For half an hour she had been sitting there fidgeting impatiently with her hands and feet every few minutes, but never moving from the position she had taken up by the window.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

plural of “wall” — 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 From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

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

From this reading Her expectant gaze was centred on the outline of a house that stood on the opposite side of the village green at Barrowfield.

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

From this reading From the window, or for the matter of that from the green or the road that encircled the green, little could be seen of the house, as the high ivy-topped walls which surrounded the garden guarded it jealously from prying eyes.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.

in the company of; together with

From this reading AUTHOR OF ’THE LITTLEST ONE’ ’THE LITTLEST ONE AGAIN’ ’KNOCK THREE TIMES’ ’THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTING PASSAGE’ ETC.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading _Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ On a cold, damp January evening a woman sat in the dusk of a fire-lit room gazing through the window.