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Chapter VII
When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead. He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune. Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life. Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight. Why had she left England so suddenly?
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why had she left England so suddenly?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had she left England so suddenly?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why had she left England so suddenly?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could scarcely believe his ill-fortune.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why had she left England so suddenly?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Why had she left England so suddenly?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
at the time that
From this reading When Browne heard the maid's news, his heart sank like lead.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had she left England so suddenly?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now his world seemed suddenly to have turned as black as midnight.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Only a moment before he had been comforting himself with the thought that he would soon be standing face to face with Katherine, ready to ask her a question which should decide the happiness of his life.
