used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
the act of burning something
From this reading The fire was burning low in the grate.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
dearly loved
From this reading “No, no, my dear—don’t,” said her father.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, no, my dear—don’t,” said her father.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
expiringverbUS /ɪkˈspaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “expire” — lose validity
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The fire was burning low in the grate.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading The fire was burning low in the grate.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The fire was burning low in the grate.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “No, no, my dear—don’t,” said her father.
not any; not one
From this reading “No, no, my dear—don’t,” said her father.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
having a supporting base
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
express in words
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fire was burning low in the grate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
tongsnounUS /tɑːŋz/
any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Sylvia shivered slightly, and bending down, took up a pair of tongs to put some more coals on the expiring fire.
precisely as stated
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was standing in his cold and desolate sitting-room.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I have something very delightful to tell you, Sylvia,” said her father.
