used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
abandoningverbUS /əˈbændənɪŋ/
-ing form of “abandon” — forsake, leave behind
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
Cecilia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
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 On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
davenportnounUS /ˈdævənpɔːrt/
a city in eastern Iowa on the Mississippi River across from Moline and Rock Island
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
fractiousadjectiveUS /ˈfrækʃəs/
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
habitualadjectiveUS /həˈbɪtʃuːəl/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
headingsnounUS /ˈhedɪŋz/
plural of “heading” — a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
high-flownadjective
pretentious (especially with regard to language or ideals)
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
Hopefield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
indicatingverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
a room where books are kept
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
ManornounUS /ˈmænər/
the mansion of a lord or wealthy person
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
memorandanounUS /ˌmemərˈændə/
a written proposal or reminder
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
a particular point in time
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
note-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
Octavia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
preoccupationnounUS /priˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
be seated
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
suitorsnounUS /ˈsuːtərz/
plural of “suitor” — a man who courts a woman
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As I followed at Miss Octavia's side, she seemed to have dismissed the ghost and the fractious chimney from her mind; her humor changed completely.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
unaccountablyadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbli/
in an unaccountable manner
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The memoranda of my adventures at Hopefield Manor fall under two general headings.
unwontedadjective
unaccustomed or unusual
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Let us sit here a moment," she said, indicating a long davenport in the broad hall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the one hand was the ghost and the library chimney; on the other the extraordinary gathering of Cecilia's suitors.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
at the time that
From this reading As in the morning when, unaccountably abandoning her habitual high-flown speech, she had asked me about Cecilia's silver note-book, she seemed troubled; and when we had reached the second floor she paused and lost herself in unwonted preoccupation.
