Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

in the past

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading Ah! unto what shall I liken it?

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

past form of “avail” — use to one's advantage

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading This ruined, wretched thing I call my life?

widely known and esteemed

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

a ball of yarn or cord or thread

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

the dead body of a human being

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

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

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

in a helpless manner

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

plural of “hint” — an indirect suggestion

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

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

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

plural of “incision” — a depression scratched or carved into a surface

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

the power of creative imagination

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

written (by handwriting, printing, engraving, or carving) on or in a surface

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Ah! unto what shall I liken it?

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

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

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

lacking or not requiring a key

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading This ruined, wretched thing I call my life?

raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous

From this reading Ah! unto what shall I liken it?

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 "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

having or bringing misfortune

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

expressing sorrow

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

destroyed physically or morally

From this reading This ruined, wretched thing I call my life?

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Ah! unto what shall I liken it?

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

cover as if with a shroud

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

having a supporting base

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

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

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

a special situation

From this reading This ruined, wretched thing I call my life?

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

From this reading This ruined, wretched thing I call my life?

exact a tithe from

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

an old word for “to”

From this reading Ah! unto what shall I liken it?

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

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

From this reading To the _Tauk e Kerra_,--standing in a dreary waste, lifting its vast, keyless arch helplessly to heaven?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Ah! unto what shall I liken it?

in or at the place that

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

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

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

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

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

of very poor quality or condition

From this reading This ruined, wretched thing I call my life?

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Doctor Grey, had you possessed a tithe of the ingenuity of Peiresc, you might long ago have interpreted the deep, dark incisions in my character, which, like the indentations on his celebrated amethyst, show where the _laminae_ of luckless events inscribed my history with mournful ciphers.

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Elsie's hints would have furnished any woman with a clew; but, since you have not availed yourself of their aid, I must lift the shroud that hides the corpse of my youth, my happiness, my faith in man, my hope in God.