Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

Having no one else present.

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

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

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

blowing in violent and abrupt bursts

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

coming down or downward

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

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

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

increase twofold

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

divisible by two

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

opinion or judgment

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

a short vivid experience

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

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

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

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

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

in the recent past

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

a surface coating for ceramics or porcelain

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

attach a tag or label to

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

used to form the superlative

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

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

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

not one, and not any

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

plural of “nostril” — either one of the two external openings to the nasal cavity in the nose

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

with low volume

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

a shaky motion

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading "Not another day, nor a night, if I can be ready before morning!"

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

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

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

expressing extreme contempt

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

inflected form of “slam” — close violently

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

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

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

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

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

not special in any way; lacking distinction

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

precisely as stated

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

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

From this reading It was a little London house, with five floors from basement to attic, and a couple of rooms upon each, like most little houses in London; but this one had latterly been the scene of an equally undistinguished drama of real life, upon which the curtain was even now descending.

during the time that

From this reading But while she stood a heavy step went blustering down two flights of stairs, and double doors slammed upon the ground floor.

intensely zealous or fervid

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She stood alone in her own room, with none to mark the white-hot pallor of the oval face, the scornful curve of quivering nostrils, the dry lustre of flashing eyes.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading THE END OF THEIR LIFE "It is finished," said the woman, speaking very quietly to herself.