Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

anew

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

(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 THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

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

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

plural of “area” — a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

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

From this reading Quite as novel was the inner house, and quite as novel was this new life to its very center.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

brought into existence

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

an alloy of copper and zinc

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading Quite as novel was the inner house, and quite as novel was this new life to its very center.

plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

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

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

every day; without missing a day

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

plural of “disadvantage” — the quality of having an inferior or less favorable position

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

emanating from God

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

beyond normal limits

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

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

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

without a flaw

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

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

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

(of a roof) constructed with a single slope on each side of the ridge supported at the end by a gable or vertical triangular portion of an end wall

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

a sermon on a moral or religious topic

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

not formal

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

located inward

From this reading Quite as novel was the inner house, and quite as novel was this new life to its very center.

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

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

(Yiddish) a big shot who knows it and acts that way; a boastful immoderate person

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

a unit of instruction

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

the state of being legally obliged and responsible

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Quite as novel was the inner house, and quite as novel was this new life to its very center.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

perfected or made shiny and smooth

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

plural of “portent” — a sign of something about to happen

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

a porch or entrance to a building consisting of a covered and often columned area

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Quite as novel was the inner house, and quite as novel was this new life to its very center.

get something; come into possession of

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

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

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

hold back within

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

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

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

happening or arising without apparent external cause

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

dependable

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

a special situation

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

precisely as stated

From this reading Quite as novel was the inner house, and quite as novel was this new life to its very center.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

a message informing of danger

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

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

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

cover with wax

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

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

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

at the time that

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."

during the time that

From this reading For one thing, while the joy of living had hitherto been all but flawless for the little boys, the disadvantages of being dead were now brought daily to their notice.

a Caucasian

From this reading THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS In this big white house the little boys had been born again to a life that was all strange.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Novel was the outer house with its high portico and fluted pillars, its vast areas of white wall set with shutters of relentless green; its stout, red chimneys; its surprises of gabled window; its big front door with the polished brass knocker and the fan-light above.

intense anger (usually on an epic scale)

From this reading In morning and evening prayer, in formal homily, informal caution, spontaneous warning, in the sermon at church, and the lesson of the Sabbath-school, was their excessive liability to divine wrath impressed upon them "when the memory is wax to receive and marble to retain."