Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

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

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

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

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

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

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

the two together, not just one

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

To consume or be consumed by fire.

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

the yard associated with a church

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

resist or confront with resistance

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

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

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

surrounding and closing in on or hemming in

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

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

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

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

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

of or relating to two people who are married to each other

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

a room where books are kept

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

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

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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 Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

without speaking

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

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

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

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

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

happening every night

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

making no sound

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

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

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

many times at short intervals

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

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

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

a sudden and severe onset of trouble

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

a soft wool fabric with a colorful swirled pattern of curved shapes

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

of igneous rock that has solidified beneath the earth's surface; granite or diorite or gabbro

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

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

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

hellish

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

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

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

the starting point for a new state or experience

From this reading Now he had stepped across his threshold and joined them, and new spirits had come to burn the light in the old red house.

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading THE TURN OF THE TIDE Lights in a country house at night are often the signal of birth or death, sometimes of both.

not provided with curtains

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

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

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

at the time that

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

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 The old red house threw its beacon from almost every window that night, and seemed mutely to defy the onslaught of enveloping darkness, whether Plutonic or Stygian.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He would have been reading some old leather-bound volume, and would have remained for hours almost as quiet and noiseless as the ghosts themselves.

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading Time was when Parson Thayer's library lamp burned nightly into the little hours, and through the uncurtained windows the churchyard ghosts, had they wandered that way, could have seen his long thin form, wrapped in a paisley cloth dressing-gown, sitting in the glow.