Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All the chairs in the room were broad and deep and enticingly comfortable.

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

plural of “binding” — the capacity to attract and hold something

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

an alloy of copper and zinc

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading All the chairs in the room were broad and deep and enticingly comfortable.

of a color similar to that of wood or earth

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading All the chairs in the room were broad and deep and enticingly comfortable.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading All the chairs in the room were broad and deep and enticingly comfortable.

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

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

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

From this reading All the chairs in the room were broad and deep and enticingly comfortable.

start firing a weapon

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

in a fitful manner

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

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

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

willing to give and share unstintingly

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

plural of “gleam” — an appearance of reflected light

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

in a random manner

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

and nothing more

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

a room where books are kept

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

bordered by a line of things

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

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 It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

for the most time

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

held dear

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

engage in

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

shelf that projects from wall above fireplace

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

used to form the superlative

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

comparative of “narrow” — not wide

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

held or filled or in use

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

perfected or made shiny and smooth

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

for the most part

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

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

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

Scottish explorer who led Arctic expeditions that yielded geographic discoveries while searching for the Northwest Passage (1777-1856)

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.

From this reading A brick fireplace of generous proportions with a high, narrow mantel shelf of brownish red marble occupied most of one of the other, and narrower, walls.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

make square

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

in or at that place or location

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading A log fire burned there fitfully now, throwing little dancing gleams on the brass andirons and the dark polished floor just in front.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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 a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

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

From this reading All the chairs in the room were broad and deep and enticingly comfortable.

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

From this reading Just as the music room was primarily Elinor's retreat, so was the library the place which Ross loved best.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading It was a long, narrow room; two square rooms had been thrown together to make it, and it was lined, on the longest walls to about half the distance from the ceiling, with low, deep, unglassed book-cases full of books on a bewildering variety of subjects, haphazardly arranged; some of them well worn as to bindings as if much read.