used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RIFT.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
anew
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/
past form of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
completely unclothed
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
blanklyadverbUS /ˈblæŋkli/
in a blank and uncomprehending manner
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
ellnounUS /el/
an extension at the end and at right angles to the main building
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
set up or found
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
the act of departing
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
grovenounUS /ɡroʊv/
a small growth of trees without underbrush
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
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 It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
on one occasion
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
arrange in a container
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
possessionsnounUS /pəˈzeʃənz/
plural of “possession” — the act of having and controlling property
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
with low volume
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
unusual or striking
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
RIFTnounUS /rɪft/
a gap between cloud masses
From this reading A RIFT.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
carry out
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
thickenedadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkənd/
made or having become thick
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He then found before him an unpleasant duty from which he shrank; Mrs. Jones must again be told that he was going away.
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 It is not remarkable that he hesitated over this, or that as the shadows once more thickened in that room he sat for a long time on his trunk, his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, gazing blankly at the one leaden window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It did not take him long again to draw out his battered trunk and pack it with his few possessions.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Ben came down quietly through the grove behind the house, slipped round to the ell door and ascended to his bare room without being observed by any one about the place.
