used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading "Put myself in mind of a wet dog," he said.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading "Put myself in mind of a wet dog," he said.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "Put myself in mind of a wet dog," he said.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Put myself in mind of a wet dog," he said.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Put myself in mind of a wet dog," he said.
with low volume
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
respondedverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Put myself in mind of a wet dog," he said.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
slouchnounUS /slaʊtʃ/
an incompetent person; usually used in negative constructions
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
TaylornounUS /ˈteɪlər/
United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading "Put myself in mind of a wet dog," he said.
at the time that
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
which person or people
From this reading They knew who had come, and the door was opened for Jim Taylor.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The Major and his wife were by the fire in the sitting-room, when there came a heavy tread upon the porch, but the knock that fell upon the door was gentle.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The night was rainy and a fierce wind was blowing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Quietly he responded to their greeting, and with both hands he took off his slouch hat, went to the fireplace and over the blaze shook it.
