Chapter I

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

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

(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 He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

in addition

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

a building occupied by a state legislature

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading “WILLIAM FOX?

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

an ornamental facade

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

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 With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

someone who (fraudulently) assumes the appearance of another

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

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

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

and nothing more

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

a room where books are kept

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

used to form the superlative

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

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

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

plural of “printer” — someone whose occupation is printing

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

a building having a circular plan and a dome

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

changing location by moving back and forth

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “ON THE RED STAIRCASE,” “MY LADY CLANCARTY,” “THE IMPERSONATOR,” ETC.

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

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

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

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

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

From this reading He’s the most brilliant man they’ve got, but a two-edged sword; they’re all afraid of him!”

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

which person or people

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.

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

From this reading “WILLIAM FOX?

United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With a Frontispiece in Color by GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading The speaker had just left the swinging doors at the foot of the staircase from the Rotunda, under the old Library rooms in the west front of the Capitol, and his companion, who was also a member, was working himself slowly into his greatcoat.