Chapter XIV

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

not being in a specified place

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

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

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

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

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

possessive form of “beatrice” — the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

French physiologist noted for research on secretions of the alimentary canal and the glycogenic function of the liver (1813-1878)

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

the state of being with someone

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

the act of departing

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

being one more than ten

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

a deliberate act of omission

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

steadfast in affection or allegiance

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

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

From this reading Godfrey was out visiting his patients.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

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

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading Godfrey was out visiting his patients.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

a female domestic

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

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

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

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

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

lighted by moonlight

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

not any; not one

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

the middle of the day

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

held or filled or in use

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Godfrey was out visiting his patients.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

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

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

plural of “patient” — a person who requires medical care

From this reading Godfrey was out visiting his patients.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

make a promise or commitment

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

at the expected or proper time

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

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

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

except for; apart from

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

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

From this reading Save for the companionship of her faithful St. Bernard she was alone.

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

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

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

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

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

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

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

the activity of making visits

From this reading Godfrey was out visiting his patients.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.

at the time that

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

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

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

which person or people

From this reading The page-boy, who was accustomed to sleep at his own home, had taken his departure: and as for the housemaid, well, every one knows that when housemaids promise to be home punctually by nine P. M., they mean any time up to eleven, and Beatrice's little domestic was no exception to this rule.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF STEEL The clock was striking the hour of ten at night as Beatrice Ravengar rose to put away the embroidery with which she had been occupied.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading Idris had been absent since noon, and Beatrice wondered what had become of him, little thinking that he was passing his time in a moonlit cave, _tête-à-tête_ with Mademoiselle Rivière.