Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

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

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

later than; following

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

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

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

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

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

plural of “button” — a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

rid of obstructions

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

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

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

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

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

in or to another place

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

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

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

set up or found

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

state of violent mental agitation

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

the act of departing

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

crowded or massed together

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

set afire or burning

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

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

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

not any; not one

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

above and across; more than

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

by chance

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

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

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

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

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

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

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

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

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

not darkened or obscured by shadow

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

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

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.

From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.

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 went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

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 It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

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

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

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

From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.

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 She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.