used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
the state of being absent
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
Ann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
catalogueverbUS /ˈkætəlɔːɡ/
make an itemized list or catalog of; classify
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
carefully weighed
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
a female human offspring
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
emptinessnounUS /ˈemptinəs/
the state of containing nothing
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
half-finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
irrelevantadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreləvənt/
having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
knitverbUS /nɪt/
make (textiles) by knitting
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
provided with artificial light
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
ornamentsnounUS /ˈɔːrnəmənts/
plural of “ornament” — something used to beautify
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
photographsnounUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræfs/
plural of “photograph” — a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide or in digital format
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
poringverbUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “pore” — direct one's attention on something
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
seedsman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
with low volume
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
stockingnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋ/
close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading Ann sat on a stool by the fire, poring over a seedsman's catalogue, a puzzled frown on her brow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Mrs. Douglas and her daughter Ann sat together in their living-room one November night.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading There was a pleasant space and emptiness about it, an absence of ornaments and irrelevant photographs; each piece of furniture, each of the few pictures, was of value.
warmedadjectiveUS /wɔːrmd/
having been warmed up
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
wastingnounUS /ˈweɪstɪŋ/
any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mrs. Douglas had a book in her lap and in her hand a half-finished stocking, for she considered that she was wasting time if she did not knit while reading.
wonderfullyadverbUS /ˈwʌndərfəli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was a wonderfully comfortable room, brightly yet softly lit, and warmed by a noble fire.
