Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Published May, 1909.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

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

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

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

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

aroused to impatience or anger

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

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

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

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

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

a stick that people can lean on to help them walk

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

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

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

plural of “consideration” — the process of giving careful thought to something

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

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

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

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

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

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

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

divisible by two

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

move back and forth very rapidly

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

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 knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

the act of departing

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

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

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

only a very short time before

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

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

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

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

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

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

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

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

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

in an imperceptible manner or to an imperceptible degree

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

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

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

marked by a lack of interest

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

disability of walking due to crippling of the legs or feet

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

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 When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Published May, 1909.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

not any; not one

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

a feeling of evil to come

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading Published May, 1909.

the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

plural of “salon” — gallery where works of art can be displayed

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

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

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

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

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

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

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

having a stiff back

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

express in words

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

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

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

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

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

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

From this reading Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.

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

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She could hardly tell how this presentiment of disaster had taken hold upon her, for the beginning of it must have come as imperceptibly as the first flicker of dusk across the radiance of an afternoon.

in a vertical position; not sloping

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

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

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

at the time that

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

in the company of; together with

From this reading When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.

be the cause or source of

From this reading She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.