Chapter III

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

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

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

(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 All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

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

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

at or in or to any place

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

from appearances alone

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

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

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

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

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading CAPTURED.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

plural of “cupboard” — a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

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

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

underpants worn by men

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

divisible by two

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

set up or found

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

plural of “garment” — an article of clothing

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

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

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

having a usually specified type of handle

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

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

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

wrongfully emptied or stripped of anything of value

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

not any; not one

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

past form of “overhaul” — travel past

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

established beyond doubt

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

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

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

not in physical motion

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

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

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

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

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.

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

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

except if; if not

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

on a floor above

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange

From this reading All the other lower rooms had been overhauled and looted, everything valuable having been carried away, unless indeed it had proved too big to be handled.

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

From this reading AT the open door of the office Alf paused; the room was empty and dark, but in the corner stood the safe, still apparently fast locked; so at least the key had not been found.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Alf then went upstairs, but there seemed to be no one anywhere.

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

From this reading Even the servants' rooms were empty, their cupboards and drawers open, and garments scattered about, as though they had dressed in great fear and haste.