used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
matters of personal concern
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
(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 Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
any thing at all
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
applyverbUS /əˈplaɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
busybodynoun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
CLOOMBER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
conjecturesnounUS /kənˈdʒektʃərz/
plural of “conjecture” — a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
command with authority
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
endeavoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
fencingnounUS /ˈfensɪŋ/
a barrier that serves to enclose an area
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
five-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
set up or found
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
healthyadjectiveUS /ˈhelθi/
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
Heatherstone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
inquisitiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
showing curiosity
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
inscrutableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈskruːtəbəl/
of an obscure nature
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
laird's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
fasten with a lock
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
a particular point in time
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
observationsnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “observation” — the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
go across or through
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
rackingadjectiveUS /ˈrækɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
express in words
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
not in physical motion
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
strictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
confined on all sides
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
at the time that
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading HOW FOUR OF US CAME TO BE UNDER THE SHADOW OF CLOOMBER I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
