used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
anew
From this reading Well, there had been plenty of time for him to get up again.
in the past
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
(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 She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Edred had tried to open it, and he had fallen off the chair.
ChevaliernounUS /ˌʃevəˈlɪr/
French actor and cabaret singer (1888-1972)
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
dreadfullyadverbUS /ˈdredfəli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
Edred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Edred had tried to open it, and he had fallen off the chair.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
Elfrida
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
divisible by two
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Edred had tried to open it, and he had fallen off the chair.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Well, there had been plenty of time for him to get up again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
only a very short time before
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
not accessible to view
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Well, there had been plenty of time for him to get up again.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
ten 10s
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Edred had tried to open it, and he had fallen off the chair.
jewelsnounUS /ˈdʒuːəlz/
plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
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 THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Edred had tried to open it, and he had fallen off the chair.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Edred had tried to open it, and he had fallen off the chair.
panelnounUS /ˈpænəl/
sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
PARLOURnounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
a full supply
From this reading Well, there had been plenty of time for him to get up again.
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
term of address for a man
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
the season of growth
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
TalbotnounUS /ˈtælbət/
English inventor and pioneer in photography who published the first book illustrated with photographs (1800-1877)
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Edred had tried to open it, and he had fallen off the chair.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Well, there had been plenty of time for him to get up again.
precisely as stated
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
(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 Well, there had been plenty of time for him to get up again.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
at the time that
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
in or at the place that
From this reading She had not had time even to look for the jewels before the panel closed, and now that she was alone in the dusty dark, with the door shut between her and the bright, light parlour where her brother was, the jewels hardly seemed to matter at all, and what did so dreadfully and very much matter was that closed panel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE KEY OF THE PARLOUR Elfrida was behind the secret panel, and the panel had shut with a spring.
a late time of life
From this reading She had come there hoping to find the jewels that had been hidden two hundred years ago by Sir Edward Talbot, when he was pretending to be the Chevalier St. George.
