Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

fear resulting from the awareness of danger

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

in a gradual manner

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

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

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

not accessible to view

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

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

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

a domain in which something is dominant

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

immediately past

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

uneasiness about the fitness of an action

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

a building designed and equipped to observe astronomical phenomena

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

and nothing more

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

a tremulous sound

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

past form of “rouse” — become active

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "What's this?" says he.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

having a supporting base

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

in or at that place or location

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading "What's this?" says he.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

push forcefully

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

someone who visits

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

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

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading "What's this?" says he.

at the time that

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

during the time that

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor a while in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

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 At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

plural of “witness” — someone who sees an event and reports what happened

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

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

From this reading By what light there was he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.