Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

later than; following

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

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

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

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

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

lacking funds

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

a movable iron plate that regulates the draft in a stove or chimney or furnace

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

destroyed or killed

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

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

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

in a gradual manner

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

death of a person

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

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

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

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

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

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

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

engage in

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

the force of workers available

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

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

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

above and across; more than

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

past form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

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

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

full and loud and deep

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

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

From this reading At sound of them Merriton got to his feet and stretched his hands above his head.

plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

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

From this reading We'll wait another half hour, and then if he doesn't come we'll make a move for bed.

(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

which person or people

From this reading "Well, Wynne said twelve, didn't he?" he remarked, with a sort of half-laugh as he surveyed the grave faces of the men who were seated in a semi-circle about him, "and twelve it is.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A SHOT IN THE DARK The church clock, some distance over Herne's Hill which lies at the back of Merriton Towers, broke the half silence that had fallen upon the little group of men in the warm smoking room with twelve sonorous, deep-throated notes.

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

From this reading A damper had fallen over the spirits of his guests after Wynne had gone out into the night on his foolish errand, and the fury against him that had stirred Nigel's soul was gradually wearing off.