used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
banisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
cigarettesnounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈets/
plural of “cigarette” — finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
FITTESTadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəst/
superlative of “fit” — meeting adequate standards for a purpose
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
Honora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
not in physical motion
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
objectivelyadverbUS /ɑːbˈdʒektɪvli/
with objectivity
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
not divisible by two
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
with low volume
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
regardingverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
SURVIVALnounUS /sərˈvaɪvəl/
a state of surviving; remaining alive
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was an odd sensation thus to be regarding one's husband objectively.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Not until she was on the bottom step did the odour of cigarettes reach her and turn her faint; and she clutched suddenly at the banisters.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST It was Saturday morning, but Honora had forgotten the fact.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Thus she stood for a while, motionless, and then went quietly into the drawing-room.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The French windows looking out on the porch were, as usual, open.
