used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
ADMIRALTYnounUS /ˈædmərəlti/
the department in charge of the navy (as in Great Britain)
From this reading "THE PRICE OF ADMIRALTY."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
Aubyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
busying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
clothing in general
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
a small house with a single story
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
crofter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
damenounUS /deɪm/
informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
diamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
start firing a weapon
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
fishermannounUS /ˈfɪʃərmæn/
someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
lieutenant'snounUS /luːˈtenənts/
possessive form of “lieutenant” — a commissioned military officer
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
the force of workers available
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "THE PRICE OF ADMIRALTY."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
panesnounUS /peɪnz/
plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
peatnounUS /piːt/
partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
potnounUS /pɑːt/
metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading "THE PRICE OF ADMIRALTY."
freed from illness or injury
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
reekverbUS /riːk/
have an element suggestive (of something)
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
TerencenounUS /ˈterəns/
dramatist of ancient Rome (born in Greece) whose comedies were based on works by Menander (190?-159 BC)
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "THE PRICE OF ADMIRALTY."
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
vapournoun
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading The reek of the peat and the vapour of the steaming garments seemed to fill the confined space.
venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/
impressive by reason of age
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN Terence recovered his senses he was lying in a crofter's cottage.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
white-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
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 Through the diamond panes of the small window Aubyn could see the heads and shoulders of several of his men.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A white-haired venerable dame was busying herself with a large iron pot over a peat fire, while an old fisherman, her husband, was spreading the lieutenant's clothes to dry.
