Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

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

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

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

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

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

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

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

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

plural of “chore” — a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

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

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

a state of melancholy depression

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

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

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

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

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

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

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

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

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

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

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

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

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

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

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

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 Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

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

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

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

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

lowest in rank or importance

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

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

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The little ones, Doyle, Lila, and Harry, were not at home.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

the property of making no sound

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

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

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

without speaking

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading The boys were attending to the morning chores, with faces as solemn and hearts as heavy as each could carry.

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

express in speech

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

with tears; in a tearful manner

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

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

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

-ing form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

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

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

hard to endure

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

still full

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.

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

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

clean with some chemical process

From this reading Amy and Nell were silently, tearfully, trying to wash the few dishes that had been used at the almost untouched breakfast.

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

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

which person or people

From this reading The house was quiet with an unearthly quietness, those who were compelled to speak using the lowest tones, and tiptoeing about.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Henry Hill sat before the fire with his head in his hands and his elbows upon his knees, a picture of utter dejection and sorrow.