Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

later than; following

From this reading Dinner at Miss Wardrop's was at half after seven.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

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

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Dinner at Miss Wardrop's was at half after seven.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

carefully weighed

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

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

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

past form of “crackle” — make a crackling sound

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading Dinner at Miss Wardrop's was at half after seven.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

let fall to the ground

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

weakening in force or intensity

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

ludicrously odd

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

start firing a weapon

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

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

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Dinner at Miss Wardrop's was at half after seven.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

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

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

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

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

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

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

and nothing more

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

absolutely essential

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

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

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

not any; not one

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

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

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading Dinner at Miss Wardrop's was at half after seven.

protected from heat and light with shade or shadow

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

make square

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The short November dusk was fading into night, and outside in the old Square, the street lights gleamed in the frosty air.

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

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

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

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

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

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

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

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading It was late afternoon in the drawing room of Miss Wardrop's house in Washington Square.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

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

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

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

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Just why Mr. Smith should have considered it necessary to drop in, on his way home from the Guardian, could no doubt have been better explained had his face not been shaded by his hand.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading In the fireplace, before which two people were sitting, a wood fire crackled, throwing fantastic shadows about the old room.