used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
bicyclenounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
the lower side of anything
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
intentionally conceived
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
declivitynoun
a downward slope or bend
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
DRESSING-GOWN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
drivewaynounUS /ˈdraɪvweɪ/
a road leading up to a private house
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
DUKE'SnounUS /duːks/
possessive form of “duke” — a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
an entrance that can be closed by a gate
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
indecision in speech or action
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
set afire or burning
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
not any; not one
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
and nothing more
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
approval to do something
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
precisely, exactly
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
only a very short time before
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
the act of searching for something
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
move stealthily
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But no sooner had I reached the bottom of the declivity than I beheld on my right a lighted doorway.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I then approached the door, for I was now seeking not only shelter but an opportunity to dry myself.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Waiting for no permission, I carried my bicycle into a little covered porch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN Thinking thus, I almost forgot the storm, but coming to a slight descent where the road was very smooth I became conscious that my wheel was inclined to slip, and if I were not careful I might come to grief.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without the slightest hesitation I turned through the wide gateway, the posts of which I could scarcely see, and stopped in front of a small house by the side of a driveway.
