The machines stilled

Question

Dobrorolskii returned to the Central Telegraph Office, the machines stilled and ready to send his orders. This time, there were no telephone calls, no sudden instructions to turn back. At six o’clock the order went out, flashing simultaneously along a dozen lines, to all parts of the Russian Empire:

What does stilled means here-does it mean that the lines of the telegrpah all over Empire were not busy? Thanks a lot.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

There was nothing going on.

CalifJim · Answer

VladvWhat does stilled ~~means~~ mean here? Does it mean that the telegraph lines ~~of the telegraph~~ all over the Empire were not busy?

'stilled' means 'not busy' or 'quiet' or 'not being used at the moment'. Yes.

But 'lines all over the empire'? No. It's specifically about the machines (not the lines) at the Central Telegraph Office, not about all such machines (or lines) in the empire.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

VladvWhat does stilled means here?

'does means' is ungrammatical.

After auxiliary do (do, does, did) you must use the plain form of the verb.

CJ

The machines stilled

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