used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
adroitlyadverbUS /əˈdrɔɪtli/
with adroitness; in an adroit manner
From this reading But she adroitly avoided the movement and retreated toward the door of the toll-house.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
apparitionnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃən/
a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading But she adroitly avoided the movement and retreated toward the door of the toll-house.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she adroitly avoided the movement and retreated toward the door of the toll-house.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
clumsilyadverbUS /ˈklʌmsəli/
in a clumsy manner
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
consternationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstərˈneɪʃən/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
dearly loved
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But she adroitly avoided the movement and retreated toward the door of the toll-house.
entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
envelopingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈveləpɪŋ/
surrounding and closing in on or hemming in
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
a young female
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
mistookverbUS /mɪˈstʊk/
inflected form of “mistake” — identify incorrectly
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading But she adroitly avoided the movement and retreated toward the door of the toll-house.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
as might be expected
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
perturbationnounUS /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃən/
an unhappy and worried mental state
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
on the contrary
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading But she adroitly avoided the movement and retreated toward the door of the toll-house.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
riddingverbUS /ˈrɪdɪŋ/
inflected form of “rid” — relieve from
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
move stealthily
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
soothinglyadverbUS /ˈsuːðɪŋli/
in a soothing manner
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
in a swift manner
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "Hurry home!" she cried anxiously, thinking rather of ridding herself of his presence, than of entertaining a fear for his safety.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
toll-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading But she adroitly avoided the movement and retreated toward the door of the toll-house.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A pall of swiftly enveloping blackness closed about the toll-house and its surroundings, which had been revealed for one short space.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
wrungverbUS /rʌŋ/
inflected form of “wring” — twist and press out of shape
From this reading The girl started back with a sharp cry, wrung from her in surprise and consternation at the sudden apparition she had beheld, while the Squire, naturally mistook her perturbation for fear of the storm.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Come! don't be afraid, my dear, you are quite safe," he said, soothingly, striving clumsily at the words to slip his arm about her waist.
