Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

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

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

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

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

a shelter from danger or hardship

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

preventing entry or exit or a course of action

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

darkened by smoke

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

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

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

not invading healthy tissue

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

in an effectual manner

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

the state or fact of existing

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

a hill near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

death of a person

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

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

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

plural of “horror” — intense and profound fear

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

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

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

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

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

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

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

plural of “mus” — type genus of the Muridae: common house mice; the tips of the upper incisors have a square notch

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

and nothing more

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

go across or through

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

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

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

past form of “sprinkle” — distribute loosely

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

closely encircling

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But it was a Golgotha, which, with more than the horrors of the grave, had neither its rest nor its silence.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

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

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

without force or sincere effort

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

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

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

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

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

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

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

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

From this reading The asylum in which my unfortunate friend was confined, at this time the only one in Edinburgh, was situated in an angle of the city wall.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading I shuddered as I looked up to its blackened walls, thinly sprinkled with miserable-looking windows, barred with iron, and thought of it as a sort of burial-place of dead minds.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "O thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the muses, With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!"--BURNS.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading It was a dismal-looking mansion, shut in on every side, by the neighbouring houses, from the view of the surrounding country; and so effectually covered up from the nearer street, by a large building in front, that it seemed possible enough to pass a lifetime in Edinburgh without coming to the knowledge of its existence.