Chapter XX

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

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

Having no one else present.

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

plural of “arcanum” — information known only to a special group

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading His smile had been encouraging, though he had not told her to be brave.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His smile had been encouraging, though he had not told her to be brave.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading His smile had been encouraging, though he had not told her to be brave.

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

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

abundantly covered or supplied with; often used in combination

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

giving courage or confidence or hope

From this reading His smile had been encouraging, though he had not told her to be brave.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

death of a person

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

a small growth of trees without underbrush

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

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

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

the time between one event, process, or period and another

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

set down according to a plan

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

the act of departing

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

the state of being alone in solitary isolation

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

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 He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

in motion

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

the act of departing politely

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

a person who requires medical care

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

cut with a saw

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading His smile had been encouraging, though he had not told her to be brave.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

convulsive gasp made while weeping

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

a very small spot

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

having a supporting base

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

confined on all sides

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading His smile had been encouraging, though he had not told her to be brave.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

very small

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading His smile had been encouraging, though he had not told her to be brave.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading She sank to the ground, laid her arms on a fallen tree, and drenched them with her tears.

up to a particular time

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

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

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He had held her hand a long time in parting, smiling at her in his patient, benign way.

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

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The moving speck was Dr. Shonto, and he was leaving her alone in a vast wilderness, filled with doubts and dread and loneliness and grave forebodings.

inflected form of “zigzag” — travel along a zigzag path

From this reading THE INTERIM OF DOUBTS CHARMIAN did not begin sobbing until, standing at the edge of the grove that surrounded the ruins of the ancient village, she saw a tiny speck moving slowly up the narrow trail which zigzagged along the sides of the cliffs from the Valley of Arcana.