used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
alcaline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
recognizable; marked
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
at any time
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
filteredverbUS /ˈfɪltərd/
past form of “filter” — remove by passing through a filter
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
in a gradual manner
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Sometimes a horse stirred.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
mewsnoun
street lined with buildings that were originally private stables but have been remodeled as dwellings
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
except for; apart from
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes a horse stirred.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Sometimes a horse stirred.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the open window the hot alcaline smell of the animals filtered slowly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
VictorianounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/
queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A WEEK had elapsed and Victoria was beginning to feel the strain.
in or at the place that
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
which person or people
From this reading It was deserted, save by a cat who shivered and crouched under the archway of the mews.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading She looked out from the window into the little street where fine rain fell gently as if it had decided to do so for ever.
