used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
AmaryllisnounUS /ˌæmərˈɪləs/
bulbous plant having showy white to reddish flowers
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading The days had gone on, and it was near the end of April.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
for the reason that
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
country-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The days had gone on, and it was near the end of April.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The days had gone on, and it was near the end of April.
set up or found
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The days had gone on, and it was near the end of April.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
and nothing more
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The days had gone on, and it was near the end of April.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The days had gone on, and it was near the end of April.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
praying-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
retirementnounUS /riˈtaɪərmənt/
the state of being retired from one's business or occupation
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
precisely, exactly
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
not in physical motion
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
in or at that place or location
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
thinking-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was her study, her thinking-room, her private chapel and praying-room, her one place of solitude, silence, and retirement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
the upper part of anything
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
unfurnishedadjective
not equipped with what is needed especially furniture
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Coming up the dark stairs one morning, she found them still darker, because she had just left the sunshine.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
precisely as stated
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
at the time that
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading RIGHT at the top of the house there was a large, unfurnished room, which Amaryllis had taken as her own long since.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading They were built very narrow, as usual in old country-houses, and the landing shut off with a door, so that when you were in them you seemed to be in a box.
