used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Weariness had captured him at length.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading Weariness had captured him at length.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
ChristophernounUS /ˈkrɪstəfər/
Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
Cromwell'snounUS /ˈkrɑːmwɪlz/
possessive form of “cromwell” — English general and statesman who led the parliamentary army in the English Civil War (1599-1658)
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
dream-pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Weariness had captured him at length.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
Ingilby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
immediately past
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Weariness had captured him at length.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
nightmaresnounUS /ˈnaɪtmerz/
plural of “nightmare” — a situation resembling a terrifying dream
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
proneadjectiveUS /proʊn/
having a tendency (to); often used in combination
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
Ripley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
cut with a saw
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
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 The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It did not seem that Lady Ingilby needed him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Christopher, watching them from the dusk of the passage, turned away.
WearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading Weariness had captured him at length.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The mistress of Ripley sat with upright carriage, seeing dream-pictures in the glowing fire of logs; and some were nightmares, but a silver thread ran through them—the knowledge that, whether he lived or lay dead, she had her husband’s love.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet he turned for a last glance—saw Cromwell’s head fall prone on his hands.
